Yesterday, we were making a presentation to a client in Rosamond California located adjacent to the main entrance of Edwards Air Force Base, Kern County. In passing, the client mentioned seeing a large ball of Mojave Greens coming out of a hole. Maybe 30 + adult snakes and which is considered to be the deadliest rattlesnake in the Continental United States. Supposedly 16 time more potent than a common Sidewinder or Diamondback.
Today, I heard a radio news report that a drunken male (Village Idiot in disguise) tried to pick up a rattler in a local park when he was bitten. The mental giant figured that he needed to get to the nearest hospital so he caught the snake (for evidence) by its tail, placed it in a paper bag which he then placed in the trunk of his car. God help whoever attempts to rescue the snake from the trunk or wherever it may be hiding.
Hopefully the hospital staff will mistakenly castrate this idiot so he doesn't pollute the gene pool.
According to stats, young adult males between 18 and 25, usually drunk, comprise the majority of people with snake bites.
Mojave Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus
Family: Viperidae Order: Squamata Class: Reptilia
DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND SEASONALITY
The Mojave rattlesnake is widely distributed throughout the Mojave and extreme northern Colorado deserts. It is found from 150 to 1500 m (500 to 5000 ft) in elevation in most desert habitats, especially desert cactus scrub, desert wash, and Joshua tree, and is most common in association with creosote. It seems to prefer desert flats over hilly or canyon habitat. This species is active from April until September (Stebbins 1954, Klauber 1972).
SPECIFIC HABITAT REQUIREMENTS
Feeding: This snake feeds upon rodents (especially Dipodomys), lizards, other snakes, birds, bird eggs and some insects (Klauber 1972). It forages actively in the open and under bushes.
Cover: The Mojave rattlesnake takes cover in burrows, presumably rodent burrows, as well as under desert bushes (Woodin 1953, Klauber 1972).
Reproduction: This species uses burrows, presumably rodent burrows, for giving live birth to young (Woodin 1953).
Water: Probably not required.
Pattern: The Mojave rattlesnake occurs throughout the Mojave Desert in a variety of habitats but is most common in scrub communities, especially creosote. It seems to prefer desert flats or very gentle slopes with few rocks.
SPECIES LIFE HISTORY
Activity Patterns: This snake is primarily nocturnal, but occasionally is crepuscular. It is active from April until September. In hot years, it may become inactive in mid-summer and may, or may not, re-emerge in fall (Stebbins 1954, Klauber 1972).
Seasonal Movements/Migration: Probably does not migrate.
Home Range: No data.
Territory: No data.
Reproduction: Young are live-born in July and August. Litters range 2-11 and average 8 young (Klauber 1972).
Niche: This species is probably taken by kingsnakes, roadrunners, and other avian and mammalian predators.
General Comments: This is probably the most dangerous snake in North America. It is aggressive, fairly large-bodied, and has a complex venom composed of hemolytic and neurotoxic elements. It is responsible for several deaths each year, including in recent years a prominent snake toxin expert. This snake should be avoided.
REFERENCES
Klauber, L. M. 1972. Rattlesnakes: their habits, life histories, and influence on mankind. 2nd ed. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1533pp.
Price, A. H. 1982. Crotalus scutulatus. Cat. Am. Amphibians and Reptiles 126.1-126.2. Stebbins, R. C. 1954. Amphibians and reptiles of western North America. McGraw-Hill, New York. 536pp.
Woodin, W. H. 1953. Notes on some reptiles of the Huachuca area of southeastern Arizona. Bull. Chicago Acad. Sci. 9:285-296.
California Department of Fish and Game. California Interagency Wildlife Task Group. 2005. California Wildlife Habitat Relationships version 8.1 personal computer program. Sacramento, California.
Mojave Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus
The often mis-named "Mojave Green" has the most potent venom of any rattlesnake in North America. Its poison is about 16 times more powerful than that of the Sidewinder. They can be identified by their triangular-shaped head and diamond-shaped markings along their body, and of course, rattles. They are brown in color in the lower elevations and darken to a green in the higher regions near the mountains. Their eggs hatch within them so anywhere from 4 to 24 baby snakes are born live in a litter.
The Mojave rattlesnake is the most dangerous of rattlesnakes in the Mojave Desert. Its venom, which it uses to immobilized its prey and defend itself, attack both the nervous system with nuerotoxins and the bloodstream with hemotoxins. It looks similar to a diamondback rattlesnake, having diamond shapes along its back. It’s color will vary from green-gray in higher, mountain elevations, to yellowish tones found more often in the lower portions of it's range. Adults range from 2-4 feet in length. The creosote bush, found in the 2,000 to 4,000 foot elevation is the primary, but not the only habitat of this snake. They feed primarily on small rodents. It will not come looking for trouble, nor will it run from it!
Find a young male adult...add booze...and you have an instant idiot.
The more one learns the more he understands his ignorance. I am simply an ignor ant man trying to lessen his ignorance
say it ain't so that people are that stupid LOL go figure we have more then our share of em here in NJ if anyone would like to take em home with you contact me
BILL
Beautiful snake & great info on it. Sounds about right, young guy all drunked up & now he is a snake expert
with super powers & the last thing you hear before the scream is, 'hey watch this'.
I don't remember now what kind of a rattler I encountered on the road back in the '80s north of Los Angeles but I gave it plenty of room. I was driving down from the top of a hill and on the paved road ahead of me I saw the snake crossing the road. I drove past it until I could see it in my rear-view mirror. I got out, approached the snake to about 10 feet and let my telephoto lens get me closer. Take photos and leave 'em as you found 'em.
I work on Edwards AFB and see snakes on the road almost every night as I drive home. There was an email going around recently about snakes in Rosamond. Here is the email with photos.
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE....
Subject: Mojave Greens - Near the Rancho Santa Fe subdivision
If Pics of Snakes bother you take caution.
Security folks may want to disseminate to your people.
Be careful out there, pass this along to anyone that you know that lives in
Rosamond especially near 40th west. And be on the lookout as well even if
you don't live in Rosamond, this is the desert. Apparently they are coming
out of Hibernation in the masses.
FYI.... remind the kids to be careful around bushes and rocks.
Yesterday, we were making a presentation to a client in Rosamond California located adjacent to the main entrance of Edwards Air Force Base, Kern County. In passing, the client mentioned seeing a large ball of Mojave Greens coming out of a hole. Maybe 30 + adult snakes and which is considered to be the deadliest rattlesnake in the Continental United States. Supposedly 16 time more potent than a common Sidewinder or Diamondback.
Today, I heard a radio news report that a drunken male (Village Idiot in disguise) tried to pick up a rattler in a local park when he was bitten. The mental giant figured that he needed to get to the nearest hospital so he caught the snake (for evidence) by its tail, placed it in a paper bag which he then placed in the trunk of his car. God help whoever attempts to rescue the snake from the trunk or wherever it may be hiding.
Hopefully the hospital staff will mistakenly castrate this idiot so he doesn't pollute the gene pool.
According to stats, young adult males between 18 and 25, usually drunk, comprise the majority of people with snake bites.
Mojave Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus
Family: Viperidae Order: Squamata Class: Reptilia
DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND SEASONALITY
The Mojave rattlesnake is widely distributed throughout the Mojave and extreme northern Colorado deserts. It is found from 150 to 1500 m (500 to 5000 ft) in elevation in most desert habitats, especially desert cactus scrub, desert wash, and Joshua tree, and is most common in association with creosote. It seems to prefer desert flats over hilly or canyon habitat. This species is active from April until September (Stebbins 1954, Klauber 1972).
SPECIFIC HABITAT REQUIREMENTS
Feeding: This snake feeds upon rodents (especially Dipodomys), lizards, other snakes, birds, bird eggs and some insects (Klauber 1972). It forages actively in the open and under bushes.
Cover: The Mojave rattlesnake takes cover in burrows, presumably rodent burrows, as well as under desert bushes (Woodin 1953, Klauber 1972).
Reproduction: This species uses burrows, presumably rodent burrows, for giving live birth to young (Woodin 1953).
Water: Probably not required.
Pattern: The Mojave rattlesnake occurs throughout the Mojave Desert in a variety of habitats but is most common in scrub communities, especially creosote. It seems to prefer desert flats or very gentle slopes with few rocks.
SPECIES LIFE HISTORY
Activity Patterns: This snake is primarily nocturnal, but occasionally is crepuscular. It is active from April until September. In hot years, it may become inactive in mid-summer and may, or may not, re-emerge in fall (Stebbins 1954, Klauber 1972).
Seasonal Movements/Migration: Probably does not migrate.
Home Range: No data.
Territory: No data.
Reproduction: Young are live-born in July and August. Litters range 2-11 and average 8 young (Klauber 1972).
Niche: This species is probably taken by kingsnakes, roadrunners, and other avian and mammalian predators.
General Comments: This is probably the most dangerous snake in North America. It is aggressive, fairly large-bodied, and has a complex venom composed of hemolytic and neurotoxic elements. It is responsible for several deaths each year, including in recent years a prominent snake toxin expert. This snake should be avoided.
REFERENCES
Klauber, L. M. 1972. Rattlesnakes: their habits, life histories, and influence on mankind. 2nd ed. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1533pp.
Price, A. H. 1982. Crotalus scutulatus. Cat. Am. Amphibians and Reptiles 126.1-126.2. Stebbins, R. C. 1954. Amphibians and reptiles of western North America. McGraw-Hill, New York. 536pp.
Woodin, W. H. 1953. Notes on some reptiles of the Huachuca area of southeastern Arizona. Bull. Chicago Acad. Sci. 9:285-296.
California Department of Fish and Game. California Interagency Wildlife Task Group. 2005. California Wildlife Habitat Relationships version 8.1 personal computer program. Sacramento, California.
Mojave Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus
The often mis-named "Mojave Green" has the most potent venom of any rattlesnake in North America. Its poison is about 16 times more powerful than that of the Sidewinder. They can be identified by their triangular-shaped head and diamond-shaped markings along their body, and of course, rattles. They are brown in color in the lower elevations and darken to a green in the higher regions near the mountains. Their eggs hatch within them so anywhere from 4 to 24 baby snakes are born live in a litter.
The Mojave rattlesnake is the most dangerous of rattlesnakes in the Mojave Desert. Its venom, which it uses to immobilized its prey and defend itself, attack both the nervous system with nuerotoxins and the bloodstream with hemotoxins. It looks similar to a diamondback rattlesnake, having diamond shapes along its back. It’s color will vary from green-gray in higher, mountain elevations, to yellowish tones found more often in the lower portions of it's range. Adults range from 2-4 feet in length. The creosote bush, found in the 2,000 to 4,000 foot elevation is the primary, but not the only habitat of this snake. They feed primarily on small rodents. It will not come looking for trouble, nor will it run from it!
Find a young male adult...add booze...and you have an instant idiot.
holy chicken stuff! you are just too smart. teach me some more. i don't think we have any poison ones here. do you know? c.n.y. i do know a med. drive east, there are timber rattlers.
if you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!
Ah yes... Rosamond... playground of the rich & famous
Garden spot of the Mojave!
What a wonderful metropolis.
I guess it's been little more than blind luck but I'd never ran into any Mojave greens out there.
But I did hear they would actually chase... as if they were territorial.
Me n' the wingmaster never ran across such a bundle of snakes such as pictured, either.
it would get pretty red.
I would NOT 'just walk away'.
...
I am a pathological liar and a functional illiterate.
Heck! If yah can't do it with a can of beer in the other hand it's not worth doing!
Way back when, my buddy Dan used to bring a burlap sack into Hoover's Bar and drop a buzztail on the pool table. He'd check his reflexes against the buzztail, with a bottle of beer in the other hand.
and that's NOT to say it's something <I> would do, even though I was a young fellow at the time.
Dan? Well, he was 6ft, 240lbs, and 50yrs old at the time. I wouldn't fuss with him!
Sometime during the evening we had a BBQ and the makings of a hatband that we tacked up on the wall behind the bar with drywall nails to dry.
But I'll agree, it's usually young kids and old folks that end up gettin' bit.
I'd just as soon dispatch 'em. Problem resolved.
Best,
rmptr
I am a pathological liar and a functional illiterate.
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by stefen
