Although commonly talked about and feared, the odds of visitors seeing a rattlesnake at Red Rock Canyon are fairly low. Pictured above is the most common rattlesnake spotted at Red Rock Canyon: the Northern Mojave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus), otherwise known as a Mojave green rattlesnake. This rattlesnake blends in very well with the environment under shrubs and rock cracks due to its green to brown coloration. Mojave green rattlesnakes are venomous and can deliver a painful bite; if you do spot one, keep yourself at least 10 feet away and do not attempt to touch or provoke the snake. These rattlesnakes can grow up to four feet in length and feature diamond-shaped patches along their bodies. From spring through fall, Mojave greens will hunt mice, ground squirrels, small birds, and small reptiles. Coyotes, roadrunners, kingsnakes, and larger birds will prey on them. During the colder winter season, these rattlesnakes will go underground, coil together, and remain dormant.

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