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RATTLESNAKES & OTHER VENOMOUS SNAKES

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Rattlesnakes are members of the pit viper family and have heat-sensing Pits one below each nostril. They pick up the infrared waves of light (Heat) giving them the abilities too "sense" all warm-blooded animals. Rattlesnakes have very poor eyesight and rely mainly on their sense of smell and their infrared sensors.

Snakes smell "with their tongue." Actually, they stick out their tongue (which is forked to provide more surface area) into the air. Particles in the air (that we inhale through our nostrils to smell) land on the snakes tongue then the snake slides the tongue back against the JACOBSON'S ORGANS on the roof of their mouth. The Jacobson organs send the message to the brain and the scent is identified. The reason for having its smelling this way is mainly because snakes do not breathe as often as we do, this gives them the ability to smell when they want and not just when they breathe.

VENOM-- Rattlesnake venom consists of two parts: Toxin (which is meant to kill its food), and digestive enzymes (to break down body tissues into a consumable resource).

TOXIN--The toxin is meant to kill small prey. It causes damage to human body systems but rarely causes death. There are two types of toxin common in rattlesnakes Hemotoxin (a toxin that destroys red blood cells) and Neurotoxin (a toxin that attacks the nerves in the body esp. the phrenic nerve of the diaphragm causing respiratory failure).

DIGESTIVE ENZYMES-- Are Injected to aid the digestion from the inside of the prey mainly because snakes swallow their food whole (They cannot chew their food to mix in their stomach acids so the acids are only affecting the outer layer of the food). Injecting it into their food helps by digesting from the inside out as well as the stomach digesting from the outside of their food inward. The digestive enzymes are even more dangerous than the toxins, because the toxins are meant to kill their food (Rodents) not people. The digestive enzymes destroy body tissue, and dangerous secondary infection will enter the body.

RATTLES- Rattlesnake Rattles are dry interconnected scales that hit against each other when shaken (there is nothing that is loose inside of them that rattles) Rattlesnakes get an extra rattle every time they shed which can be two or more times depending on how much they eat (not once every year). Rattlesnakes have very poor vision and rely mainly on scent... Rattlesnakes never attack. If a rattlesnake is moving in your direction it is because it does not see you and is trying to avoid danger.

!!DO NOT TEASE OR HANDLE RATTLESNAKES!!
Most rattlesnake bites are on teenage guys that were handling the rattlesnake while they are drunk showing off to their friends. The rest of the bites are people reaching into dark places where they cannot see. Do not try to grab a rattlesnake by the neck. There is no safe way to handle a rattlesnake!!

Rattlesnakes are usually out in the spring and summer around nightfall, but as the nights get longer and cooler in the early fall they can only be seen in the midday.

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Venomous Snakes in the Antelope Valley and Mojave Desert

Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis helleri)

The Southern Pacific is the rattlesnake you would find in upper elevations in the chaparral of the mountains the Devil's Punchbowl area and toward the coast. It is wide bodied and has a wide head. It is dark in color (almost black but they range from slate blue to brown) with diamond, circular or square patterns on their backs. They range in size from 5"(when young) to over 5'. They feed on mice, birds, lizards, and rabbits. They have 6-21 young that are born August-October. There venom is a very strong Hemotoxin (Look in the Rattlesnake description above) They are more defensive than the Mojave rattlesnake and more apt to bite.

Mojave Rattlesnake (Mojave Green) (Crotalus scutulatus)

The Mojave rattlesnake is a desert snake that lives in shallow underbrush. They are light colored ranging from light brown to yellow and pale green. The nickname "Mojave green" comes from the green variation, but this is not a good nick name to use for the Mojave Rattlesnake mainly because not all Mojave Rattlesnakes are green. The Mojave has both types of toxins neurotoxin and hemotoxin (look in RATTLESNAKE definition). They are NOT aggressive. The Mojave Rattlesnake (depending on the individual snake) is very mild mannered.

Sidewinder Rattelsnakes (crotalus cerastes)

The Sidewinder Rattlesnake lives in the sandy areas of the desert, like washes. It is the color of light sand and has small horns above it’s eyes. It never grows larger than 2’. This viper usually submerges its body into the sand and waits for it’s prey to come to it. Its name comes from the form of motion it uses to move in the soft sand in it’s habitat. Of coarse all snakes can "side wind" in the sand just like the sidewinder rattlesnake, but because the sidewinder only lives in sandy areas it is constantly using the side winding motion. The Sidewinder usually eats rodents or lizards.

Night Snake (Hypsiglena torquata)

The Night Snake is a very small snake most I have seen are 6" long (but I have read that they can be up to 26") and are smaller around than a pencil. They are dark in color and have small dark markings on their backs. They have a very mild toxin in their saliva (not harmfull to humans). They come out during the evening time and night time. Their main food source is insects, and yucca night lizards.

California Lyre Snake (Trimorphodon biscutatus)

The Lyre snake is a gray colored snake that can grow to be about four feet long. It lives in rocky areas and eats lizards, birds, and small rodents. It has very mild venom that is secreted from the rear of its upper jaw.