Are there rattlesnakes in Colorado?
Prairie rattlesnake: Yes. The prairie rattlesnake lives in Colorado. Open records come from 43 counties.
Western rattlesnake: Yes. The western rattlesnake lives in Colorado. Open records come from 10 counties.
Western massasauga: Yes. The western massasauga lives in Colorado. Open records come from 5 counties.
Where in Colorado
- 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
Prairie rattlesnake Crotalus viridis
- Greenish gray to brown with dark blotches down the back
- Blotches narrow into bands near the tail
- Two pale lines on the side of the face
Dangerous. The only rattlesnake across most of the northern plains. 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.
Western massasauga Sistrurus tergeminus
- Pale gray with dark brown blotches down the back
- Small rattle
- Nine large plates on top of the head
Medically significant. Bites are rare and need medical care.
Often mistaken for rattlesnakes
- Rattlesnake vs Gopher Snake Gopher snake: harmless, lives in Colorado
- Eastern Diamondback vs Timber Rattlesnake Timber rattlesnake: dangerous
- Timber Rattlesnake vs Copperhead Copperhead: medically significant
- Western Diamondback vs Mojave Rattlesnake Mojave rattlesnake: dangerous
- Pygmy Rattlesnake vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless
Questions
Are there rattlesnakes in Colorado?
Yes. 3 species live in Colorado: Prairie rattlesnake, Western rattlesnake and Western massasauga.
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.