Scientific name: Crotalus Oreganus Lutosus
Higher classification: Crotalus Oreganus
Rank: Subspecies
The Great Basin Rattlesnake can be found in Northeast
California, Southeast Oregon, Southern Idaho, Nevada, Western Utah, and Northwest Arizona. They are venomous snakes and are "sit and wait"
predators, hiding and waiting for their prey to come to them. Like most snakes
they only strike if hunting or being harassed and are not the monsters of
nightmares, they are just another animal that shares the earth with us.
“Statistically, only 1 in 500 people die from rattlesnake
bites and the vast majority of these deaths occur when people refuse medical
treatment. In fact, only 30%-40% of bites are accompanied with a venom
injection. Rattlesnakes use venom to kill prey (small creatures like mice and
other rodents). They prefer not to waste precious venom when delivering a
defensive bite. Remember that a biting snake is responding defensively to your
actions. Protect them and yourself by leaving rattlesnakes alone.” (Great Basin
Rattlesnake 2015, https://www.nps.gov/brca/learn/nature/gbrattlesnake.htm.)
This was a Great Basin Rattlesnake that was at the
Tulelake/Butte Valley Fair in Tulelake, California that Brad’s World of
Reptiles had on display to teach people about these animals. Their Facebook
page can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/BradsWorldReptiles/
No comments:
Post a Comment