Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Good night last week, mojaves and southern pacifics crawling on the roads. Southerns were newborns and the mojaves were unusually defensive.

I'm an amateur concerning snakes but I do browse this forum often to gain knowledge. My question is how common are rattlesnakes in Arizona? I am looking at a house in Arizona in the Mojave desert area that is secluded but I have some concerns about rattlesnakes. I've done some research and I see there are many different species in that area.

Do you have to go search them out to find them or are they so abundant out there that I would have them roaming in my back yard all the time? I live in New Jersey right now so venomous snakes have never been a concern for me and I'm curious about what type of problem they pose in that area of the country. Or am I just being paranoid? Also I would never hurt a snake I realize I would be moving into it's backyard but I'm curious what type of danger they pose.

The snakes may be there, but you'll rarely see them. They tend to be rather secretive and often nocturnal (don't like the 100 degree temperatures much better than we do). Don't go about moving up rocks, boards, etc with your hands because snakes, scorpions, wasps and spiders all hide underneath things like that. Chances are if you have good weather stripping on your doors, they'll never get in and if the yard is kept clear (easy to do in AZ), it won't be real attractive to snakes.

The snakes are probably nowhere near as dangerous as driving among all the bluehairs and Californians.

In arizona their are lots of herps. I go to care free which is a little town in the center of scottsdale several times a year to visit family. When that hot arizona sun goes down, the snakes come out. They are scattered across the desert floor at night.

If you are planning to move to an isolated part of arizona? Snakes will definatly be part of your life. Staying in care free we have a regular mojave green rattlesnake who hangs out on the doormat. Everyone knows he's their at night, so then when people come or go from the house they use a different door.

The people who live in that house have even encountered the venomous gila monster in their garage. One of two venomous lizards in the world. Even though this lizard is passive. More then likly it should be left alone.

My family in care free have never been bitten, or even bothered by the deadly things that live in the sonoran desert. If you respect the wildlife, and watch where you step at night and where you put your hands. You should'nt have to worry about the snakes. Depending on what part of N.J. you are comming from, Arizona might be safer to live.

Have a safe move:
Jason

As always, gorgeous southern Jason!

x

I was wondering were to find southern pacifics ? I have never seen one before.

thanx

Angeles forest or the foothills. You wont find them in desert habitats, mostly in or near mountains. They like it cooler than most snakes.

Blah, I've never found them either!
I am like a Great Basin Magnet though! I live in Idaho. And find them constantly. Granted we only have the Basins in this part of Idaho. I do go to AZ often though, and still all I find are the Basins! I have managed ONE Speckled. and plently of non venomous. I want some venomoid variety! lol
Been in the high deserts and in the julapia.....I dont know how its spelled...pronounced walapie.....mountains. Again, nothing but Basins and non venomous species.

You should be proud that you found a speckled. Those are not easy to find on the road from what Ive heard. If you were in the mountains, then you wont find mojaves, they live in deserts. Southern Pacifics live in central and western parts of Cali, so I wouldnt expect to find those in AZ either. Im not familiar with that mountain range, but I know black tails are common in some mountains in AZ, and diamondbacks are all over the sonoran desert.

Where Im at in Cali, mojaves are the most common snake. They are everywhere. We cant seem to cruise one night without finding one.

You are definitely looking in the wrong place!

Mojaves are all over the place. If you want Pacifics and Greens, you need to be in the Western Mojave Desert and explore different altitudes. You aren't gong to find Pacifics in the desert, and you won't find Mojaves in the mountians.

Greens are very common here. I see at least one a week (without looking for one) And yes, they do live up to their reputation.