A Banded Rock Rattlesnake found on a hike through a wooded canyon.
Banded Rock Rattlesnake From Above
Tag: arizona
Western Banded Gecko
Western Banded Geckos are native to the southwest. Like many geckos, these little lizards can vocalize, emitting a squeaking bark when distressed. Unlike many geckos, however, they have eyelids, which give the appearance of having eyelashes with slightly raised scales. These are also not wall-climbers, lacking the clinging pads geckos are famous for. If you’re in an urban area, these are not the geckos you likely see around the patio light at night.
Arizona Black Rattlesnake Watching Us
Arizona Black Rattlesnake watching us as we watch her from a basking spot near her winter den. She is one of a group of females that will stay here all year, eventually giving birth late in the summer.
Sonoran Sidewinder On A Dirt Road
Sonoran Sidewinders are very fast as they, essentially, tip-toe across hot desert sand. At night, they can be confused by flashlights and move with speed in surprising directions. This may be an explanation for reports of their “aggression”. In reality, they are timid, quick to flee, and often less likely to strike out defensively than other species in the area. This one was seen crossing a dirt road near Phoenix.
Sonoran Sidewinder
Sonoran Sidewinder in the soft sand it prefers, moving along the edge of drainage when spotted.
Arizona Black Rattlesnake Ambush Path
Arizona Black Rattlesnake as seen from above. This snake was found in ambush on a narrow channel leading to a rare water hole – animals must walk this path to drink, making for a great hunting spot.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Basking At Den
A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake out basking in early Spring at its den. An hour later, this animal was out on the crawl looking for females to court, and make sure rival males stick to their own rocks.
Sideblotched Lizard Side-eye
If you’re anywhere in the western US, these lizards are familiar. The Common Side-blotched Lizard lives throughout even the most urbanized areas of Phoenix and Tucson, running up and down the block and stucco approximation of natural habitat. This one is particularly colorful, giving me side-eye while I took a few photos.
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake Near the Office
A pink Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake resting in rocks near the Rattlesnake Solutions office in the first morning sun, This snake uses the same area each year, showing up around June and leaving once aestivation is no longer necessary during the monsoon. Where it goes in the cooler months is unknown, but the tight site fidelity of this species is nearly absolute in most cases. This was in 2021, and if she survives another year, there is no doubt we’ll see her again in the same spot in 2025.
Tiger Rattlesnake In Ambush
A large Tiger Rattlesnake in a loose ambush coil near a series of rodent nests. This one was found just after sunup in a heavily urbanized area. Not all hunting postures for rattlesnakes are simple coils. Rattlesnakes may actively track, then settle in for a relatively short period, then move and set up again. I don’t know if this one succeeded, but it was gone when I passed through the area an hour later.
