Southern Pacific Rattlesnake

[John Koerner]

Click image for Encounter Report.

See its place on The Tree of Life.

[Andrea B.]

Wa-HOO !!! I have not seen one for years. Cool shot. Hopefully with a looooong lens.

[John Koerner]

Wa-HOO !!! I have not seen one for years. Cool shot. Hopefully with a looooong lens.

I did have a telephoto (300 VR II).

I would have actually preferred the Voigtländer 125mm f2.5 Apo Macro in this instance, as it has plenty of distance and I could have taken a more detailed shot.

(I have been catching rattlesnakes since I was 12, and know their strike range. This one was in no position to do anything. After I got 2 shots, it retreated back into the foliage.)

[Gary]

Nice. I think a bit lower and more difficult perspective would have added more drama ... But a nice capture nonetheless. I remember having rattlesnake round ups when I was a kid. The memories.

[Andrea B.]

I have been assiduously practicing avoidance of rattlesnakes for at least 50 years. No catchin'. No sir. No way.
But in the last few years I don't really see them much in the desert areas any more.

[pluton]

Funny...Most of the rattlesnakes I've come across ---usually while bike riding or walking--- in Southern California were out about 11am on a Spring day.

[John Koerner]

Nice. I think a bit lower and more difficult perspective would have added more drama ... But a nice capture nonetheless. I remember having rattlesnake round ups when I was a kid. The memories.

I agree. But, since I had the 300mm VRII, and it was a narrow trail, that was the best I could do within the slim area I had to work within ... and a 7' minimum distance ... not to mention the "only 2 shots" it allowed me to get ... before it turned around and retreated back into the thickets

Indeed, would have much preferred a closer, ground-level view myself with a macro lens myself.

[John Koerner]

Funny...Most of the rattlesnakes I've come across ---usually while bike riding or walking--- in Southern California were out about 11am on a Spring day.

Interesting observation.

I know some guys who keep meticulous records (bar graphs, everything) of the days/months/times etc. of everything they come across.

[David Paterson]

We hardly have snakes worthy of the name in the UK, and one of the biggest thrills of my "animal" life was at Mesquite Flats - the dunes in Death Valley - out in the sands very early and seeing the very obvious tracks of a "sidewinder". For the first time, the meaning and origin of the name became clear to me.

[Tristin]

Funny...Most of the rattlesnakes I've come across ---usually while bike riding or walking--- in Southern California were out about 11am on a Spring day.

Snakes love basking near trails when the sun is high!

[Gary]

I have been assiduously practicing avoidance of rattlesnakes for at least 50 years. No catchin'. No sir. No way.
But in the last few years I don't really see them much in the desert areas any more.

That is a wise practice.  I remember my Zoology prof informing us on a field trip, that if anyone gets bitten by a rattlesnake, they fail the course.

[Michael Erlewine]

Years ago, when I was doing herpetological fieldwork, I collected a lot of pit vipers, mostly rattlesnakes and copperheads. Of course, they should be left alone. And they can get huge. When I was collecting specimens for the University of Michigan, back in the late 1950s, I would capture Western Diamondbacks in Texas, which would be under the large metal feed bins on ranches. Some of these were between five and six feet long. And what was most amazing was not their length, but their girth, approaching the width of a medium-sized thigh. They were both heavy and dangerous.

[John Koerner]

Rattlesnake round-ups are primitive and evil. There is no justification for them, zero.

Snakes are a vital part of the ecosystem. They are neither to be feared, nor tormented, only understood for what they are and treated with respect.

I used to catch them when I was young, just because I was curious and attracted to the fact they are dangerous.

Now I remain as curious as ever, I just have a respect for their sanctity to live in this world unmanipulated and undisturbed.

I have snake tongs for handling rattlesnakes, which I do only to get them off the roads so they don't become road kill.

But other than that, I try to leave them alone and (if possible) photograph them as they are, in-situ.

Jack

[Gary]

Well said John Koerner. Unfortunately, Respect seems to be in short supply in this world.

I checked out your link to the Nature Photographers Club. Good stuff.  The location of the rattlesnake looks like San Dimas.  I used to live next door in Claremont. Keep up the good work.

[Andrea B.]

Good to hear such a statement, John. I hope that some organizations in the US can continue their good work to restore and preserve habitat for all the animals. For example, it was very cool to see documentation of the wolves in Yellowstone when we were there. We didn't see any actual wolves that trip, but there were displays in the visitor's center. The wolves are tracked but otherwise left completely alone.

I've seen some nice snake fellows here in New Jersey. Surprisingly to most people, we have a lot of nature habitat and wildlife in this state. "-)

David, how cool that you saw Sidewinder tracks in Death Valley! I've never seen that. But when we were there this spring there was quite a sandstorm going on near the Dunes so I did not get to explore. Next time I hope.