Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

I started hiking at the Sycamore Creek Trailhead off the Beeline Highway, where I followed an unnamed trail. After a couple hours on the trail, I heard the buzzing of a rattlesnake. The snake was in the middle of the trail, and had been enjoying the warm sun. The rattler refused to move so I took the opportunity to photograph the snake. I spent almost an hour photographing it. Then I walked around it and continued my hike. After a short time, I turned around and headed back to my car. The rattlesnake was still there and refused to move. So I walked around it again. I spotted the rattlesnake at about 3,500 feet elevation, and at 12:25 PM.

First Water Creek Overlook - Superstition Mountains

This trail follows a ridgeline overlooking First Water Creek and the Apache Trail (AZ 88). My loop hike was 2.5 miles, and it took me 2 hours and 16 minutes. At least half of that was on the road.

Desert Tortoise

Desert Tortoise

 

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Peoria, AZ

This is the second time I have encountered a western diamondback rattlesnake at Peoria Regional Preserve.

Northern Black-tailed Rattlesnake - White Tank Mountain Regional Park

I saw a Black-Tailed Rattlesnake today on my 15.2 mile loop hike at White Tank Mountain Regional Park. I was walking through Ford Canyon and heard the unmistakable rattle, and saw it on the trail. Fortunately the snake didn't want to move, and made some nice poses for me. I sat down on the trail about 6 feet away and was thrilled that snake was cooperating with me. However, it was clearly annoyed by me and my camera.

When I photograph rattlesnakes I forget all about my OCD.

Crotalus molossus (the black-tailed rattlesnake) is found from central Texas west through northern and western Arizona, and south to toward the Mexican Plateau, Mesa Del Sur, and Oaxaca Mexico. Black- tailed rattlesnakes occupy grasslands, deserts, and rocky mountainous areas. They are also found at high altitude pine-oak and boreal forests. The highly hemorrhagic venom is of moderate toxicity, but venom yield from a large snake can be substantial.

 

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Phoenix Sonoran Preserve

I was out hiking with my friend Tom, and we saw the rattlesnake crossing the trail, and then hide among the cactus. It's always exciting to see a rattlesnake. I took the photo with my phone and zoomed in.

Greater Short-Horned Lizard - Woodchute Trail

I always see a lot of horned lizards on this trail. They are slow, and easy to photograph. I found this one in the Prescott National Forest.

California Kingsnake - Agua Fria National Monument

This is a California Kingsnake. The kingsnake has been found in deserts, riparian areas, woodlands, forests, and farmland from sea level to 7000 feet. Active in early morning and late afternoon when the weather is mild, the common kingsnake becomes nocturnal with the onset of extreme heat in summer.

It's always a great day when I see a snake. They are so challenging to photograph that I forget about my OCD and depression.  Unfortunately, they always try to get away from me so I pick them up for a photo, unless they are venomous.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Hell's Canyon Wilderness

While hiking in Garfias Wash at Hells Canyon Wilderness, I heard a quiet rattle and saw this Western Diamondback Rattlesnake about 3 feet in front of me. It then decided to hide from me under this bush. So I sat down 6 feet away and began photographing this beautiful snake. It was a tricky shot, and took several tries. I forget I have OCD when I see these beautiful but dangerous snakes. When photographing rattlesnakes it requires my total concentration. I need to compose a good photograph and remain safe at the same time, and resist the urge to get closer. That pushes the OCD far into the background of my brain. I sat six feet away for this photo.

Gopher Snake - Agua Fria National Monument

While hiking across the semi desert grasslands toward the Agua Fria Canyon I came across this beautiful gopher snake lying across the trail. It quickly moved but I caught it just as it attempted to hide in the grass. I picked it up and it got in the strike position but did not bite, then imitated a rattlesnake by flattening its head and vibrating its tail. But I knew it was a faker. I held it by its middle and it quickly calmed down as let it move along my arms and hands while photographing it with my camera phone. This snake is found in nearly every part of the state from elevations ranging from sea level to 9,000 feet. They are usually very docile. After getting some decent photos I let the snake go.

Yarrow's Spiny Lizard - Santa Rita Mountains

This lizard ranges across south-central, and southeastern Arizona at elevations ranging from 3,000 feet to about 6,000 feet. I found this lizard yesterday, while hiking up Mount Wrightson in the Santa Rita Mountains. This diurnal lizard is often spotted basking on trees and sometimes rocks in the morning.

 

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Saguaro National Park West

Click on image for a larger photo

On May 24th, I was fortunate to have spotted this Western Diamondback Rattlesnake on the Sweetwater Trail at Sagauro National Park West. I had just happened to glance down at the trail, and there it was about four feet in front of me stretched across the trail and not rattling, until I got my camera out. They don’t like cameras, and it moved off the trail looking for a hiding place among the prickly pear cactus. Western Diamondbacks, have a hemotoxic venom, which means blood-damaging, but it turns out that the chemicals in the venom target all sorts of tissues, not just blood.

ranging from about 4,000' to over 9,000'.

Eastern Collard Lizard - Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial Trail

I saw this collard lizard while hiking the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial Trail near Yarnell, Arizona. They are widespread throughout the western United States. In the Sonoran Desert, it is found in Arizona, southeastern California, and northern Mexico, including eastern Baja California. These lizards often sit on large rocks basking in the sun and looking out for other individuals or food. Males are highly territorial and have stereotypical head-bobbing and push-up displays.

 

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Blue Wash

On the Blue Wash Trail, located near Cave Creek, I didn't see a rattlesnake until I almost stepped on it. I heard the rattle and looked down, and saw it about 6 inches from my hiking boot. But instead of biting me it chose to move away, and so did I. However, I then pursued it with my camera which angered the snake, but made for a good photograph. They are camera shy. Western Diamondbacks, have a hemotoxic venom, which means blood-damaging, but the chemicals in the venom target all sorts of tissues, not just blood.

 

Gila Monster - Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

I saw this Gila Monster crossing the trail at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. I chased it into the creosote bushes to get its photo. It then turned around and opened its powerful jaws trying to frighten me, that's when I chose to not get closer because they are venomous. A Gila monster bite is extremely painful to humans, but it rarely causes death. The biggest problem you might have if a Gila monster bit you is trying to get the lizard to release its grip! Most of the Gila monster's teeth have two grooves that conduct its venom, a neurotoxin, from glands in the lower jaw. The toxin is not injected like that of the snake, but flows into the wound as the lizard chews on its victim.

 

Arizona Black Rattlesnake - Prescott National Forest

I saw an Arizona Black Rattlesnake on the Woodchute Trail, an 8.5 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Jerome, Arizona. This snake is endemic to the central mountains of the state from below the Colorado River in northwestern Arizona, along and below the Mogollon Rim, through the White Mountains, and down into the Santa Catalina and Rincons. It is found at elevations ranging from about 4,000 to 9,000 feet. Most individuals of this species are relatively docile compared to other rattlesnakes in Arizona. However, the venom is 2 to 2.5 times the toxicity of the Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Lowe et al. 1986, Rubio 2010).

 

Desert Horned Lizard - Joshua Tree National Park

The Flat-tailed Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii) has the most limited distribution of any horned lizard species in the U.S. It is found in the Colorado Desert in California, Arizona and Mexico. Its California range is mostly contained in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys in CDFW's Inland Deserts Region, with some habitat in Eastern San Diego County.