Are there rattlesnakes in Utah?
Western diamondback rattlesnake: Only as rare records. GBIF holds 3 open records of the western diamondback rattlesnake from Utah, the latest from 2005, but there is no known population.
Western rattlesnake: Yes. The western rattlesnake lives in Utah. Open records come from 25 counties.
Mojave rattlesnake: Yes. The Mojave rattlesnake lives in Utah. Open records come from 2 counties.
Sidewinder: Yes. The sidewinder lives in Utah. Open records come from 1 county.
Speckled rattlesnake: Yes. The speckled rattlesnake lives in Utah. Open records come from 1 county.
Western massasauga: Only as rare records. GBIF holds 1 open record of the western massasauga from Utah, but there is no known population.
Where in Utah
- 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 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.
Speckled rattlesnake Crotalus mitchellii
- Speckled, granite-like look that matches the local rock
- Color runs from cream to pink, gray or brown
- Faint bands, sharper near the tail
Dangerous. A bite is a medical emergency.
Often mistaken for rattlesnakes
- Rattlesnake vs Gopher Snake Gopher snake: harmless, lives in Utah
- 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 Utah
- Pygmy Rattlesnake vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless
Questions
Are there rattlesnakes in Utah?
Yes. 4 species live in Utah: Western rattlesnake, Mojave rattlesnake, Sidewinder and Speckled 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.