Content including photographs are Copyright © 2009 - Don & Linda Gilmore
What to Do if your bitten by a venomous snake - good information!
If you're going to go out and look for a snake in the desert there is a few precautions you can take to increase safety. If you're hesitant at all then don't go. This is serious business and shouldn't be taken lightly. Using snake chaps and a camera with a remote release and an extension for the camera is a good idea. The desert can be a remote place and safety when interacting with potentially dangerous wildlife should be considered. Some reptiles are very slow moving and docile in appearance. Don't let that fool you, they can move fast! Most will try to get away when confronted while some will stand their ground and defend themsleves against what they perceive as a threat. Having a partner to hold a light and keep an eye out for you is very helpful. All Things that should be considered!
This is my favorite capture. A Mojave a little over 4 ft. long. In Southern California Mojaves are frequently referred to as Mojave Greens. This was a very healthy snake with an attitude. He wouldn't back up or try to get away. Instead he remained a defensive posture until I made like I was leaving. A green colored Mojave is unusual throughout the majority of the range they inhabit as most Mojaves are brown to tan in color. Green colored Mojaves tend to be localized to certain geographic regions.
Length -- 2 to 4 ft. long.
Here's the Sidewinder Rattlesnake. This one was normal for size, about 16 inches long. You can tell a Sidewinder when you run into them in the desert by the little horns above the eyes. One thought is that the horns help to protect the eyes. They are usually not defensive when encountered, but I did have one that got a little antsy and came right at me.
Length -- 17 to 30 inches long.
This Sidewinder was over 20 inches long and had 11 segments on its rattle, identifying it as an older snake. It looked very healthy and was in a hurry to get away from us. Sidewinders leave a stepped track in the sand because the entire body doesn't remain in contact with the ground when they move. One of them took off one night and shot straight across the road traveling like a Diamondback would -- not sidewinding like you'd expect them to do.
Yes, snakes can swim. And, they do a pretty good job of it, too! This Western Diamondback swam quite a ways up this canal in the desert looking for a place where it could get out. Lucky for him, I got a long stick and gave him a hand. He could have drowned; I didn't have any other choice.
Length -- 3 to 7 ft. long.
The Western Diamondback is a snake you'll likely run into in the desert. These Rattlesnakes can get really big' although the biggest one we ever saw was 4 1/2 ft. long. At that size they have a very thick and strong looking body. Usually slow moving they can turn in an instant, quicker than your reflexes can react. The photo to the right here is to show how their camouflage works to their advantage. We stood right next to this guy for a few minutes and didn't see him.
Here's an interesting snake -- the Night Snake. Venomous, yet not dangerous to people. Their fangs are located in the back of their mouths, they are extremely reluctant to bite, and with their small size, small mouth and location of their fangs it would be hard to inflict a bite on a person. They mostly eat lizards and other small animals.
Length -- 12 to 26 inches long.
Here's one that was really defensive, didn't hesitate to strike. It's the Prairie Rattlesnake. This snake often has noticable stripes on the scales above the eyes that forn a "V" shape. They are reputed to be bad tempered. So if your not familiar with handling or being near a snake in the desert, leave this one alone.
Length -- 35 to 40 inches long.
(Crotalus oreganus helleri)
The Southern Pacific rattlesnake is found coastally in Southern California and Baja, but reaches inland into the desert in certain areas. Males, as with most snakes, have longer tails than females. Southern Pacifics have been know to aggressively defend themselves but, as with most snakes, will choose to flee if they have a route of escape. Color variations occur. This snake can cause great tissue damage. They can live several decades.
Length - 16 to 64 inches long.
This is Crotalus molossus, the Black-tailed rattlesnake. It ranges from Central Texas through Western Arizona and Southward to the edge of the Mexican Plateau. This a rattlesnake that lives mostly in rocky habitats, avoiding grasslands and barren desert. We encountered one in the desert and because of its defensive display we were unable to get a good photo of him. It is reputed to be a non-aggressive rattlesnake.
The close-up to the right below shows how the snake got its name, the black-tailed. Lives from sea level to around 9,600 ft. elev.
Length - 28 to 49 inches long.
Both photos courtesy of Martin Feldner
Photo courtesy of Martin Feldner
Photo courtesy of Martin Feldner
This ground dwelling snake is mostly nocturnal. It's venom is very deadly as it's in the same family as mambas, cobras, kraits, and taipans. However it is very small so bites are very un-common. Don't try to handle this snake. Found mostly in southern Arizona.
Length - up to 24 inches.
(Micruroides euryxanthus)
