Are there rattlesnakes in California?
Western diamondback rattlesnake: Yes. The western diamondback rattlesnake lives in California. Open records come from 4 counties.
Western rattlesnake: Yes. The western rattlesnake lives in California. Open records come from 57 counties.
Mojave rattlesnake: Yes. The Mojave rattlesnake lives in California. Open records come from 7 counties.
Sidewinder: Yes. The sidewinder lives in California. Open records come from 8 counties.
Speckled rattlesnake: Yes. The speckled rattlesnake lives in California. Open records come from 10 counties.
Red diamond rattlesnake: Yes. The red diamond rattlesnake lives in California. Open records come from 8 counties.
Where in California
- None recorded
- 1 species
- 2
- 3 to 4
- 5 or more
Rattlesnakes across the US
- Lives here
- Rare records
- Gone
- Not here
How to recognize them
Western diamondback rattlesnake Crotalus atrox
- Gray to tan with dusty diamond blotches
- Black and white bands of equal width just before the rattle
- Two pale stripes on the face
Dangerous. Responsible for many of the serious snakebites in the Southwest. A bite is a medical emergency.
Western rattlesnake Crotalus oreganus
- Brown, gray or olive with darker blotches down the back
- Blotches turn to bands toward the rattle
- Pale line from behind the eye to the jaw
Dangerous. The rattlesnake most people meet in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. A bite is a medical emergency.
Mojave rattlesnake Crotalus scutulatus
- Greenish to tan with diamonds that have clean pale edges
- White tail bands wider than the black ones
- Pale stripe behind the eye ends above the corner of the mouth
Dangerous. Venom in many populations carries a strong nerve toxin. A bite is a medical emergency even if it looks mild at first.
Sidewinder Crotalus cerastes
- Small rattlesnake with a raised horn-like scale over each eye
- Pale sand color with faint blotches
- Moves sideways and leaves J-shaped tracks
Dangerous. Small, with a smaller venom yield than big rattlesnakes, but a bite still needs emergency care.
Often mistaken for rattlesnakes
- Rattlesnake vs Gopher Snake Gopher snake: harmless, lives in California
- Eastern Diamondback vs Timber Rattlesnake Timber rattlesnake: dangerous
- Timber Rattlesnake vs Copperhead Copperhead: medically significant
- Western Diamondback vs Mojave Rattlesnake Mojave rattlesnake: dangerous, lives in California
- Pygmy Rattlesnake vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless
Questions
Are there rattlesnakes in California?
Yes. 6 species live in California: Western diamondback rattlesnake, Western rattlesnake, Mojave rattlesnake, Sidewinder, Speckled rattlesnake and Red diamond rattlesnake.
What do rattlesnakes look like?
Dark diamonds with pale yellow edges down the back. Two pale diagonal stripes on each side of the face. Thick body and a rattle on the tail.