Along with the excitement of Phoenix and the cool vibe of Tucson, people love visiting Arizona for its open spaces, unique desert setting, lush golf courses, and seemingly endless hiking trails. Interestingly, these are the same places where you might find some of Arizona’s most infamous local inhabitants – rattlesnakes. If you’re planning a trip to Arizona, it’s smart to learn about these dangerous reptiles before you go.
Rattlesnakes are deadly
Each year, about 150 people are bitten by rattlesnakes in Arizona, and the rattlesnakes found in Arizona can be deadly. You are most likely to come across a rattlesnake on a summer afternoon after the sun has set or on warm days in spring, winter, and fall.
Visual characteristics of the rattlesnake
You can look for its characteristic flat, triangular-shaped head, but that’s not conclusive. Many are colored in tan and brown patches, but not all. The best way to know if you have encountered a rattlesnake is if you can see a rattlesnake. Note that young rattlesnakes may not have fully developed rattles, so they may have only a few segments. If you can’t get close enough to see if there’s a rattlesnake on the end of the snake, that’s fine. Don’t get any closer.
Different types of rattlesnakes
There are 17 types of rattlesnakes in Arizona. The most common is the Western Diamondback rattlesnake. ( Crotalus atrox). This snake reaches the largest size of any of the Arizona rattlesnakes, and most of the bites are attributed to this species. They can grow to be over 5 feet long, but it is rare to see one so large that it is not in captivity. It is not that common, but it is definitely important to avoid it, it is the Mohave rattlesnake ( Crotalus scutulatus) . The venom can affect the brain or spinal cord. The Mohave is generally green in color and has light, broad bands at the base of the tail.
If you can see the bands at the base of the snake’s tail, you are too close.
How rattlesnakes bite
Rattlesnakes have two retractable fangs that quickly spring into action when they attack their prey. Typical prey includes birds, rodents, rabbits, lizards, and amphibians. In general, they will attack humans only when their territory has been invaded or when they have been provoked.
Other snakes in Arizona
There are more than 70 types of snakes that call Arizona home, but most people live their entire lives in Arizona and never see a single one, except perhaps at the Phoenix Zoo.
What to do if you get bitten
Do not take out your pocket knife, cut the wound and try to suck out the poison. That only works in old western movies and it might do more harm than good. The short answer: go to the hospital immediately.
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