Although I now live in a state with only one rattlesnake species, and in a part of that state with none at all, I have had a few more adventures with these feisty reptiles since I wrote my diary on them (See: www.dailykos.com/...). All were in Southwest. Among these were a couple of direct confrontations with western diamondback rattlers in the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park (the riparian woodland along the Rio Grande in New Mexico), the discovery of a Mojave rattler near Chiricahua National Monument (Mentioned in my diary www.dailykos.com/...), and a visit to a friend who was care taking several diamondbacks and a black-tailed rattler near Tucson, Arizona. These creatures never seem to cease fascinating me and so I thought that I would revisit the subject in a short photo essay.
Of the rattlesnakes found in the Southwest United States, the diamondback is the most feared, although the Mojave, which has a venom with nasty neurotoxic elements, is probably more dangerous. Pit-viper venoms are largely tissue-destroying and tissue damage can be quite extensive in such pit vipers as cottonmouth moccasins and some rattlesnakes. Neurotoxins interfere with nerve functions and can kill by paralyzing the diaphragm muscles. It is wise to avoid being bitten by any venomous snake, or indeed any snake (even harmless bites can become infected!) I generally avoid rattlers by being observant and never putting my hands or feet where I cannot see them. Again it is very important if bitten by a venomous snake for the victim to seek immediate medical aid. First aid can be helpful (but see the more modern recommendations: www.mayoclinic.org/… and www.wildbackpacker.com/...), but if one has had a full injection of venom from a rattler or other pit viper (rattlesnakes do not waste venom if they can help it and may make a dry bite) antivenin is really the only choice. Earlier first aid treatments such as ice bathes, tourniquets, and cutting the site of the bite are no longer recommended as they often result in as much or more damage than the effects of the venom, and at best they certainly complicate the situation.
Still, even the most observant can make a mistake and as I rounded a thicket of tamarisks at the Mesilla Valley Bosque in the summer of 2015, on the eve of my move to Washington state, I lapsed into searching for thrashers, flycatchers, and other possible birds found in the thickets. Within a few minutes I heard the characteristic sound of a rattlesnake and looked down to see a diamondback hurriedly crossing an area of sand a few feet in front of me.
Western diamondback, Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, New Mexico.
Closeup of western diamondback, Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, New Mexico.
The snake hurriedly entered the tamarisk thicket and inadvertently posed for me (see also the cover photo).
The other diamondbacks included one I was shown at the Bosque about the time I wrote my first diary and two more at a friends property in the foothills of the Rincon Mountains near Tucson. He also had a black-tailed rattlesnake that he had removed from a park trail to fatten up and rerelease away from tourist areas (he works for the park).
Western diamondback in the Bosque, along canal trail. New Mexico.
Western Diamondback close up. Foothills of Rincon Mountains, Arizona.
Albino Western Diamondback. Foothills of Rincon Mountains, Arizona.
Emaciated Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Rincon Mountains, Arizona.
The Mojave rattlesnake was the only live snake we saw in the Chiricahuas while I was involved in teaching a course in spider identification in July of 2015. We saw it crossing the road near the mouth of Pinery Canyon not far from Chiricahua National Monument.
Mojave Rattlesnake, Pinery Canyon, Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona.
Same Mojave Rattlesnake, coiled up.