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 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.
