This Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake was resting on a small rise just below its aestivation den in Phoenix. She’s pregnant, and will stayed in the area most of the summer before moving up the hill to a rocky slope to give birth.
A Tiger Rattlesnake found on a nighttime hike in Phoenix more than a decade ago. These snakes are, unfortunately, often poached from preserves.
A group of Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes aestivating during the lethal Arizona summer heat in the summer of 2016. In this cave, they can stay consistently cooler than the 115˚F+ daily temperatures outside and survive until monsoon rain brings relief.
Tiger Rattlesnake resting outside its aestivation den on a hot Phoenix summer night. These snakes are quite common in much of the area, though most hikers will never see one due to their secretive nature and effective camouflage. Even of those reported, a large number of them … if not most of them, end up being misidentified Speckled Rattlesnakes.
A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake hiding away on a dry May day. A site nearby will serve as an aestivation den a few weeks later, once temperatures were firmly in the triple digits each day.
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.
A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake waiting for an unlucky animal to come along in Phoenix. These locations are carefully selected, often after tracking a scent trail for some distance to find an ideal ambush situation.
