Visitors
Amazing New Friend I Met at Work
I saw this amazing creature out by where I work. He was all stretched out sunning himself. I did not have my camera with me, so I went back in the building to get it. By the time I got back he had started heading back to where he came from, folding back on himself. He was quite amazing, I am so glad I got to take photos so that I could see him up close... it is not a good idea to get up close to a rattlesnake.
Western diamondback rattlesnake Crotalus atrox is a venomous pitviper species found in the United States and Mexico. Found in areas ranging from flat coastal plains to steep rocky canyons and hillsides. It is associated with many different vegetation types, including desert, sandy creosote areas, mesquite grassland, desert scrub, and pine-oak forests. Towards the southern edge of its range, this species may be found in thorn forest and tropical deciduous forest.
When threatened they usually coil and rattle to warn aggressors. There is suspicion that rattlesnakes living around human population centers do not rattle as often because it leads to the snake’s discovery and consequent destruction. The young are fully capable of delivering a venomous bite from the moment they are born.
Adults commonly grow to about four feet length, and very rarely up to seven feet. Males become much larger than females. The tail has 2-8 black bands separated by ash white or pale gray bands; this led to the nickname of "coon tail." They can live up to 20 years. This species is ovoviviparous; the young pierce their thin egg membranes immediately before birth and are born live.
They hibernate in winter in caves or burrows. The adult snakes have no natural predators, though hawks, eagles, coyotes, foxes and other snakes are known to prey on younger snakes.
These snakes can go for up to two years without food in the wild. They are an important predator of many small rodents, rabbits, and birds. It is primarily a nocturnal animal, hunting for its prey on warm summer nights. Rattlesnakes swallow their prey whole, then digest as the food passes though the body. On averge, Rattlesnakes in the wild eat only once every 2 to 3 weeks.
The venom of the diamondback isn't particularly toxic, the size of the snake allows a larger capacity of venom which is released from its two prominent fangs. All pit vipers have the ability to control the flow of venom through their fangs, allowing the diamondback to release most of its venom in a single strike. If bitten professional medical attention should be sought immediately.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalus_atrox
http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Snakes-Subpages/h-c-atrox.html
Email
Print Article
Favorites
Report Abuse
User Comments
 |
The number of rattles indicates the number of times the snake has shed his skin. (I would guess they can shed more than once a year) Over time the older rattles break off or are warn down so many could be missing. The rattles left can't really be used to determine age, or at least that is what I was told by a "snake guy". Thanks for your visit and comment. Have a great day |
 |
Yup...they shed as often as they need to. Might be once in a year's time if the food supply is lean to as many as three or four times, possibly more, if hunting is good. They grow in proportion to space and food supply. Most die long before they reach maximum potential on their size. |
|
That is what I heard too. Thanks for the info... hey Trace I am thinking of making my own calender on either lulu or cafepress... Bats for October, what month seems rattle snake like to you? I do love this guy's close up! Any input would be much appreciated. |
|
I think he's probably July. Maybe August. That close up is just stunning. |
|
Ahh, summer snake, makes sense. Thanks so much, I am really quite proud and amazed at how well it turned out. It is not a good idea to get too close to one of these guys. After talking to those who were there when I took the photo, I was probably a bit closer than I should have been. But in my defence, it was a cool morning and snake didn't seem to be frightened by me at all. I printed the photo and hung it up at work... one of my better photos if you ask me.:) Thanks so much for your help. Often times the photos I am most impressed with are not the photos others like.:) |
|
Here it is. I've never seen one. Less than 3'. The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, native to eastern North America, is the only venomous snake in Ontario. Although the venom is potent, this snake's small size (about 75 cm long) and shy nature make it a minor risk to humans. |
|
Thanks for sharing them. I looked up images of them, they have a beautiful pattern. There are 3 nice photos of them on the top of this page http://www.easternmassasaugarattlesnake.com/ Very interesting. Snakes get a bum rap for the most part. I wonder why certain creatures rank as lovable and others as feared. Poor snakes don't even need to be poisonous to be feared, they like spiders need a better PR agent. :) Thanks for the info on your rattler. |
 |
Yikes! |
|
:) Yes one has to watch where they step in the desert. He was moving very slow because the morning was still rather cool. Once he got warmed up he went into the bushes. Thanks for stopping in and for your comment. Have a great day. |
|
Wow. Never have seen one up close!
|
|
Thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed the photos. He is quite a lovely snake. I have a zoom on my little camera. The head shot turned out wonderfully if I do say so myself. Thanks so much for your visit and wonderful comment. Have a great day |
|
Wow!! That's a great shot! |
|
Thank you, I have to say I am pretty proud of it myself. He is just a wonderful looking snake, I just love how cool his eye looks. Thanks so much for stopping in and for your wonderful comment. Have a great day. |
 |
Cool pics! He's an awesome looking snake. |
|
Thanks, he is a nice looking guy. I love his eye. Thanks for stopping by and for such a nice comment. Have a great day |
 |
Oh he is nice :) |
|
Thank you, I think he just might be one of the most handsome snakes I have ever seen. I love his close-up. His eye is amazing. Thanks so much for taking time to come over and see him and leave such a nice comment. I am pretty proud of him. Have a wonderful day! |
Your new friend is quite amazing! Very nice photography |
|
Why thank you, glad you enjoyed the photos. Thanks for stopping in and for taking time to leave a comment. Have a great day |
 |
WOW!!! How close were you really to him?? Looks like you were right on top of him. |
|
Probably about 8 to 10 feet maybe 12, zooms come in quite handy.:) I took one at regular setting then zoomed a bit and then zoomed a bit more. I was not sure if the last zoom would work well since it went to digital zoom, but it turned out great, makes it look like I was right there... not a good idea to get too close to one of these and had he been moving 12 feet would not have been far enough, but it was cold and he didn't seem to mind. He was moving like a snail. :) So glad you enjoyed it... I put it up on my wall. I just love his eye. Thanks so much for your visit and wonderful comment. Have a great night. |
|
Beautiful. BUT you be careful! |
|
Thanks, glad you liked the photos. It was cold and he was barely moving. I sure am glad my camera has a little zoom. Thanks for stopping by and for your comment. Have a great day |
 |
That's so cool! My boyfriend has a pet Corn Snake, nothing quite so adventurous.. but I am wary of him as he bites! (The snake that is!) lol. Great pics! |
|
LOL 'the snake that is' that was funny. This snake was out near where I work, we have seen two snakes in our front yard this year, I posted them, http://www.blogster.com/margar3t/another-snake and http://www.blogster.com/margar3t/something-we-almost-never-see if you want to see them. |
|
Hehe! Well those are awesome pics, I can see you have a love of photography. They are great and the little black snake is quite cute for a wild one...thanks for posting |
|
Glad you enjoyed them. Thanks for stopping by. |
Does the number of rattles have anything to do with age?
I'll have to post on our only posionious snake which is a rattle snake. I am not going to even try to spell it's name until I find it.