Western rattlesnake
The rattlesnake most people meet in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. A bite is a medical emergency.
- Lives in
- 10 states
- Size
- 24–48 in
- Open US records
- 9,043
- Group
- Snake
How to identify it
- 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
- Color varies a lot across its range
Size: 24–48 in (total length). Habitat: Hillsides, grassland, chaparral and open forest from the Pacific coast to the Rockies.
Also called Northern Pacific rattlesnake, Great Basin rattlesnake, Southern Pacific rattlesnake, Arizona black rattlesnake, midget faded rattlesnake.
Some herpetologists split it into several species: Southern Pacific (C. helleri), Great Basin (C. lutosus), Arizona black (C. cerberus) and midget faded (C. concolor). We count them together.
Where it lives
- Lives here
- Rare records
- Gone
- Not here
When it is out
Look-alikes
- Rattlesnake vs Gopher Snake Gopher snake: harmless
State by state
| State | Status | Open records | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Lives here | 6,264 | 57 |
| Washington | Lives here | 791 | 16 |
| Utah | Lives here | 689 | 25 |
| Arizona | Lives here | 445 | 12 |
| Nevada | Lives here | 368 | 17 |
| Idaho | Lives here | 238 | 22 |
| Oregon | Lives here | 124 | 20 |
| Colorado | Lives here | 85 | 10 |
| Wyoming | Lives here | 31 | 3 |
| New Mexico | Lives here | 6 | 3 |
| Michigan | Not here | 1 | 1 |
| Ohio | Not here | 1 | 1 |
States not listed have no open records and are outside the range.
Questions
Where does the western rattlesnake live?
In 10 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Is the western rattlesnake dangerous?
Dangerous. The rattlesnake most people meet in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. A bite is a medical emergency.
How do you identify a western rattlesnake?
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.
When is the western rattlesnake most active?
Most open US records fall in April to July.