Penitente Canyon SLV Colorado

[RGINN]

Camped down here on the west side of the valley last night, above the canyon. Last year I located a rattlesnake den in an out of the way location but couldn't get a decent pic cause they were too spooked. Got a good pic this year I think. This is a prairie rattler den, and this is probably the mother, as there's a lot of little ones down in those rocks. I didn't feel like tossin rocks out of there for more pics This time of year they'll be sticking close to the den and out sunning on sunny days. Unless something environmental or human caused happens, they'll use this same den site for many years. Had good weather, little windy, low thirties overnight. On the way home, had snow from northern Chaffee County on up to Summit County, but roads in good shape.

 

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[cyzak]

I have always been told they are there I have never ventured that area at all always the upper, nice pics brother.

 

[Chilli]

Camped down here on the west side of the valley last night, above the canyon. Last year I located a rattlesnake den in an out of the way location but couldn't get a decent pic cause they were too spooked. Got a good pic this year I think. This is a prairie rattler den, and this is probably the mother, as there's a lot of little ones down in those rocks. I didn't feel like tossin rocks out of there for more pics This time of year they'll be sticking close to the den and out sunning on sunny days. Unless something environmental or human caused happens, they'll use this same den site for many years. Had good weather, little windy, low thirties overnight. On the way home, had snow from northern Chaffee County on up to Summit County, but roads in good shape.
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Great picture of the snake. 👍

 

[tamrock]

Great encounter. I've only witnessed rattlers out and about in Arizona and Wyoming.

 

[RGINN]

Gettin to be a lot more of them than I've seen in the past. Course, that population will fluctuate from year to year. You know I had one buzz by my head and wake me right up one morning over by La Ventana del Norte (don't sleep right on the ground down there anymore, and best alarm clock ever), in the canyon one crawled up and stretched out and made himself at home right beside my cot (hey, how's it goin bud?) and my son stopped a man and his young son on the canyon trail and removed one so they could pass safely and not step on it. (No sir it's not a bull snake, I was in charge of the reptile department at Oklahoma University, and I pretty much know what I'm talking about). They're not aggressive and pretty much avoid people, you just got to watch where you're walking. Almost stepped on one last year and spotted him at the last second.

 

[RGINN]

And as a warning, these guys can strike if really aggravated about 2/3 of their body lengths, if agitated enough. I took these pics with a 75-300mm lens.

 

[pepperj]

Great photo of Mrs Rattle Snake.

 

[GirlWithWolf]

Great picture!

 

[RGINN]

Great photo of Mrs Rattle Snake.

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Well pepperj, you might be interested to know they make an anal probe to help you determine the sex of a snake. My son is the snake expert, I'm pretty satisfied just identifying it as a snake, haha!