Western Rattlesnake

Also known as Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Pacific Rattlesnake

Western rattlesnakes are adaptable pit vipers that rely on heat-sensing facial pits and specialized tail rattles to navigate their environment and deter threats. They spend cold winters coiled together in communal hibernacula before dispersing into grasslands, forests, and rocky hillsides for spring and summer hunting. Ambush predators by nature, these pit vipers play a crucial role in controlling rodent populations across western North America.