Snakes

ive seen rattlers 3 times hiking into BV canyon this season, and my friend stepped on ones head on a trail run out at Calico.

They give me the heebies...

I've seen a number of rattlers and bullsnakes in Colorado. Rattlesnake in the BLM campground near Penitente Canyon. A 6 foot bullsnake crawled out of the bottom of a crack we were getting ready to climb in the South Platte area. He was the biggest snake I've seen in Colorado. I've seen slightly smaller ones in Clear Creek Canyon. Last fall we saw a large bullsnake in the parking area of Golden Cliffs, then later the same morning my wife sent my 3 year old son to play in the shade of the cliff just as I spotted a prairie rattler coming out of the shade to sun himself. That was close. we do a little more of an area snake check now! My dog and I have encountered 1/2 dozen rattlers on the trails or below the crags at Golden Cliffs over the years.

I also saw a Gila Monster in a crack I was climbing in Scottsdale AZ.

timt wrote:figured i'd throw in my 2� since venomous critters are my speciality. the rattlesnakes are generally found around crags, just happens that climbers and rattlers share the same taste in places to sun themselves. early morning and evening, they will likely be sunning themselves and in an obvious spot. however, during warmer hours of the day (~10am to 7pm right now) they will likely be under rocks or brush. the morning and evening--and ESPECIALLY night--they are most dangerous as this is when they hunt. when hunting they are less likely to rattle and far more likely to sense the heat of an ankle placed in front of them and strike without warning. in the hot hours of the day, they should be very alert an give plenty of noisy warning. HEED THAT WARNING!!!! ... tim

Tim, cool, thanks for the info. What can you offer about nesting habits? and, is the prairie and western basically interchangeable in terms of the rattlesnake classification (the markings are so distinct and really amazing to see up close)?

What I saw was more an aggressive but defensive position from the snake trying to establish a perimeter with strike attempts without being coiled; it also made a flanking move and coiled for strike position from a better attack angle (rattle notification was not given). We yielded the trail and moved back then laterally out of what we thought was the nest area. Time was morning to mid-morning at N Table Mtn, Golden, CO (a few years back). The behavior was just very specific, deliberate, & unlike what I had been prepared for. We figured we happened upon a nest; accurate?? In this situation, would we just be dealing with one snake or would there be a possibility of multiple snakes working to establish a defensive position?

Mark,
I don't believe it would have had to do with nesting. Rattlesnakes will den up for the winter, but are generally underground, cold, and unaggressive. As far as "nesting," they give live birth and do not stay with the you very long... and likely underground again. No real parental care exists in snakes. (as an aside, only the king cobra guards a nest in snakes) So you likely just ran across lone, nasty rattlesnake. The disturbing part is the lack of rattleing!!! You see this is becoming more common. The problem is as usual humans The rattle alerts people of the "scary" venomous snake. The tool then kills it. What these tools are doing is selecting for a population of non-rattleing rattlesnakes. Not good news, because you will get no warning before a strike!!!
As for the difference between a "prairie" and a "western," technically those are different species, but as with all common names it is hard to tell what is being described. There are 3 species in Colorado, which does not include what is commonly referred to as the "western." A western is huge (up to 6'0 and is technically Crotalus atrox. The one you saw on table mountain is the only one in the front range Crotalus viridis.
Hope this helps!

Anyone ever been bitten by one? I have - a Western Diamondback - it was a sobering experience. Fortunately no ill after effects - I think...

Knock on wood.... never bitten. Being a herpetologist specializing in venomous snakes, I am exposed to be bitten (i.e.--close to with no glass between) maybe 200 times/week and only had one "close call" which involved being chased across the room by a 12-foot king cobra. Yet I am still very nervous when going rock climbing because I know they can suprise you, especially when you are eyeballing a beautiful handcrack instead of the trail!
You are VERY lucky not to have any long-term effects from a western bite. There was a bite at the Denver Aquarium from a black-tail last month and it was BAD! Numerous skin grafts & I would wager permanent disability. This is not that uncommon. I also know 3 others bitten around Denver by the local flavor and ALL spent quality time in intensive care. With rattlesnakes, deaths are very rare, but permanent side effects are pretty standard.
Take home lesson: DON'T GET BIT!!!