Your all-time best rattlesnake shots

DracoRJC · Post by **DracoRJC** » September 4th, 2015, 9:24 am

I think the forum is in need of some good ol' fashioned eye candy, so I thought I'd resurrect an old thread idea from a few years ago - show us your all time favorite rattlesnake photos!

The original thread is here: http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/vie ... e+pictures

Here's two from this past summer in West Texas to start us off right:

Zach_Lim · Post by **Zach_Lim** » September 4th, 2015, 9:54 am

Great photos and great thread. Due to the California drought, I have been much more interested in Rattlesnakes- they are easy to find and do not require flipping (which during this drought would surely damage the habitat).

Here is a shot I particularly like, sans the damned grass in the way.

"Green" Northern Pacific Rattlesnake- San Mateo County, CA

SouthWestern Speckled Rattlesnake- San Bernardino County, CA

bgorum · Post by **bgorum** » September 4th, 2015, 10:09 am

One from this past spring. Western Diamond-back coiled in ambush west of Albuquerque.

Gorum_150421_1095_1_2_3_4 by Bill Gorum, on Flickr

Stohlgren · Post by **Stohlgren** » September 4th, 2015, 12:36 pm

I could post rattlesnake photos all day long, but I haven't got one that surpasses this one from a couple years ago as a personal favorite:

A second favorite could vary from day to day, but I really like this sauga shot:

Neil M · Post by **Neil M** » September 4th, 2015, 1:02 pm

Two of my favorites from this summer:

Arizona

New Mexico

-Neil

Soopaman · Post by **Soopaman** » September 4th, 2015, 2:19 pm

Hard to pick favorites.

Crotalus horridus (Canebrake Rattlesnake) by Kyle, on Flickr

Crotalus atrox (Western Diamondbacked Rattlesnake) by Kyle, on Flickr

Sistrurus catenatus tergiminus (Western Massasauga) by Kyle, on Flickr

Sistrurus miliarus streckeri (Western Pygmy Rattlesnake) by Kyle, on Flickr

And then there's this one:

Cane break'em by Kyle, on Flickr

Matt Arnold · Post by **Matt Arnold** » September 4th, 2015, 6:29 pm

I'm partial to these..

Timber Rattlesnake by Matt Arnold, on Flickr

NACairns · Post by **NACairns** » September 4th, 2015, 6:53 pm

Juvenile viridis hunting sagebrush lizards in Carbon Co. MT:

Crotalus viridis by N Cairns, on Flickr

Big lady waiting for summer in SW Saskatchewan:

Crotalus viridis by N Cairns, on Flickr

her neighbour:

Crotalus viridis by N Cairns, on Flickr

A cerastes waiting as well in San Bernardino:

Crotalus cerastes by N Cairns, on Flickr

Soopaman · Post by **Soopaman** » September 4th, 2015, 9:05 pm

Also:

Crotalus horridus (Canebrake Rattlesnake) by Kyle, on Flickr

John Delgado · Post by **John Delgado** » September 4th, 2015, 10:11 pm

You people take some really GREAT shots ... I'm inspired.

I'm new to field herping, and new to photography as of about a year ago.

These shots are before I learned about in situ.

But I have more ... a lot more

This one I named "Tommy Two-Trail" because I caught him coming off of trail 2b crossing a dirt road and onto trail 2c. I took him off the road and into the woods about 40 yards where I photographed him and let him go.

I hope to see Tommy again someday Northern Pacific Rattlesnake - Crotalus oreganus oreganus

NPR - C.o. oreganus by John Delgado, on Flickr

chrish · Post by **chrish** » September 5th, 2015, 10:06 am

Best? I don't know. But I like these:

South Texas atrox chillin' on a country road -

and maybe not the best photo, but this was certainly the best looking rattlesnake I've ever found (caveat - someone else flipped it, not me...but I was there) -

Noah M · Post by **Noah M** » September 7th, 2015, 7:18 am

Timber/Canebrake from N. Florida, this spring on a road.

Not the best shot to me, but probably the biggest EDB I've ever seen. Conservatively 4'6", but possibly 5'. Found on my birthday of this year, on a road in Florida.

herpseeker1978 · Post by **herpseeker1978** » September 7th, 2015, 7:55 am

My favorite right now:

Josh

hellihooks · Post by **hellihooks** » September 7th, 2015, 2:43 pm

"Den Defense' exhibited by male ruber... from behind, the male came to the front, allowing female to retreat down hole... the following her down. Got a series of shots... one of these days I'll remember my camera has a video function...

Neil M · Post by **Neil M** » September 7th, 2015, 5:36 pm

Two more from this summer:

Tim Borski · Post by **Tim Borski** » September 8th, 2015, 8:45 am

These are only the best on account of locale.

Crotalus unicolor

Crotalus catalinensus

A 9 year old showed me how to do this...so bad...

Tim

Fieldnotes · Post by **Fieldnotes** » September 8th, 2015, 9:47 am

Red Diamond Rattler from Riverside County, CA

Nick Scobel · Post by **Nick Scobel** » September 8th, 2015, 5:13 pm

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake by Nick Scobel, on Flickr

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake by Nick Scobel, on Flickr

Canebrake Rattlesnake by Nick Scobel, on Flickr

Josh Young · Post by **Josh Young** » September 8th, 2015, 7:16 pm

Canebrake rattlesnake. by Josh Young, on Flickr

Eastern diamondback rattlesnake. by Josh Young, on Flickr

Dusky pygmy rattlesnake. by Josh Young, on Flickr

Anerythristic dusky pygmy rattlesnake. by Josh Young, on Flickr

John Delgado · Post by **John Delgado** » September 8th, 2015, 8:03 pm

.
This one we named 'Ralph'

Northern Pacific Rattleenake - Crotalus oreganus oreganus

Ralph - 08 by John Delgado, on Flickr

This is 'Travis'
He was a spectacular blue ... I pray that I see Travis again, and next time I won't touch him.

Northern Pacific Rattleenake - Crotalus oreganus oreganus

Travis - 05 by John Delgado, on Flickr

My #3 - the 3'rd rattlesnake I ever seen in my life .... named him 'Sylvester' and he was a BIG BOY

Northern Pacific Rattleenake - Crotalus oreganus oreganus

Sylvester - 02 by John Delgado, on Flickr

justinm · Post by **justinm** » September 9th, 2015, 9:44 am

Western Pygmy Rattlesnake by Justin Michels, on Flickr

This snake was the largest Timber I've ever seen. He was scarred horribly, and just awesome. This snake was thick, it's hard to give scale but I've never seen a Timber in his category since.

Timber Rattlesnake by Justin Michels, on Flickr

This was just a yawn, not a threatening display.

Massassauga by Justin Michels, on Flickr

One of my favorite shots and finds ever.

Timber Rattlesnake by Justin Michels, on Flickr

This was one of several neonate saugas found years ago. Cute little button on this one.

Massassauga by Justin Michels, on Flickr

MattSullivan · Post by **MattSullivan** » September 9th, 2015, 4:32 pm

and maybe not the best photo, but this was certainly the best looking rattlesnake I've ever found (caveat - someone else flipped it, not me...but I was there) -

[/quote]

idk where i first saw this pic but its my favorite rattlesnake I've ever seen

John Delgado · Post by **John Delgado** » September 9th, 2015, 6:20 pm

This is 'Randy' - Juvenile/young adult he was 40"

Almost no pattern to very faint - body same color as the natural red/grey clay dirt .

Northern Pacific Rattlesnake - Crotalus oreganus oreganus

Randy - 03 by John Delgado, on Flickr

This one ... his name is 'Huey' Yearling ... intact original button on top of 4 segments, he was about 22"

Again, please forgive me for handling ... I was very new to field herping. I don't handle the rattlesnakes anymore ... ONLY if I need to, and I don't need to very often.

Northern Pacific Rattlesnake - Crotalus oreganus oreganus

Huey - 10 by John Delgado, on Flickr

Jason Hull · Post by **Jason Hull** » September 9th, 2015, 7:12 pm

ZantiMissKnit · Post by **ZantiMissKnit** » September 10th, 2015, 8:27 am

This little atrox was trying so hard to soak up so much heat from the road (Cochise County, AZ):

Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) by Andrea, on Flickr

My first southwest snake! C. scutalatus from Cochise County, AZ. How we got it to take this posture? We opened the car door.

Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) by Andrea, on Flickr

lateralis · Post by **lateralis** » September 10th, 2015, 9:24 pm

I'll toss these in the pot

Here's an oddball

John Delgado · Post by **John Delgado** » September 10th, 2015, 10:18 pm

.
This is 'Tiny' - My first neonate

He was only 9" long, with a little tiny button - What a CUTIE...!!!

DSC_0025_AA by John Delgado, on Flickr

DSC_0068_AA by John Delgado, on Flickr

Barry R · Post by **Barry R** » September 11th, 2015, 10:55 am

105_2619 by Barry R, on Flickr
Timber

105_4223 by Barry R, on Flickr
Timber

105_4385 by Barry R, on Flickr
EDB

105_4212 by Barry R, on Flickr
Timber

105_4867 by Barry R, on Flickr
EDB

ahockenberry · Post by **ahockenberry** » September 11th, 2015, 5:08 pm

Timber Rattlesnake

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Eastern Massasauga Neonates

John Delgado · Post by **John Delgado** » September 11th, 2015, 5:49 pm

ahockenberry ^^^ Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...!!!

walk-about · Post by **walk-about** » September 12th, 2015, 6:40 am

Yep! Ashley, that last shot of all those saugas!! Very, very incredible capture and I don't think I have ever seen anything like that. Great work my friend!

Dave

Jeroen Speybroeck · September 12th, 2015, 1:06 pm

I'm going to shamefully not limit myself to just a few, because I love rattlers too much. They have been on top of the menu for the 4 US trips I've done.

I love molossus!

atrox baby - if you're a European herping AZ, you love this species because there's always one to be found (in contrast to countless zero nights back home)

AZ scute

sneaky tiger

banded rock with a lot of "baby pink"

willardi

common but ever so cool - CA winder

helleri

surely not the nicest speck, but I was very happy to find it, after having it on the wishlist for 2 previous trips to the States

after a DOR, a mint in mint condition, Nevada

in situ US bushmaster from Louisiana

same - this is where "the beauty AND the beast" come together into a single animal

bgorum · Post by **bgorum** » September 12th, 2015, 6:49 pm

Something I worked on a little after witnessing a diamondback get hit on the road this summer. My second effort at trying to portray the dangers snakes face on our highways.

bewilderbeast · Post by **bewilderbeast** » September 12th, 2015, 9:35 pm

It's been years since I posted here but thought I'd toss my hat in on this one. All of these are from California

Solid Green C. oreganus

Yearling C. oreganus

C. cerastes from the Northern part of the range

randyweber · Post by **randyweber** » September 12th, 2015, 10:02 pm

Crotalus oreganus helleri

sjohn · Post by **sjohn** » September 14th, 2015, 8:25 am

My favorite rattlesnake pic on this forum may have appeared pre-forum crash but it was of a large Canebrake that just crawled out of a cornfield in Chesterfield Co. SC....would love to see that photo again.