The Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus used to be C.viridis) is the only indigenous rattlesnake species in the Northwest and North Coast regions. However, even though a single species, there are several subspecies and appearances can be quite variable. The local "Northern Pacific Western Rattlesnake" (C.o. oreganus), is the subspecies found here at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center.
This is the only venomous snake found in the Northwest and North Coast regions ... and all subspecies have relatively short, thick tails with distinctive rattles that the snake can "buzz" when alarmed. Newborn rattlesnakes, about 6 inches in length, only have a single "button" rattle and are silent even when they try to "buzz" their tail.
All have a distinctive tail color pattern of encircling rings of light and dark ... with the more mature specimens having tails that resemble rings of black and white. This tail pattern can look similar to the pattern on the harmless Common Kingsnake. So, if such a snake tail catches your eye ...remember, "IF BLACK AND WHITE IT MIGHT BITE".
These snakes are becoming more active with the warmer weather, and have been commonly found near den sites within the last week here at HREC.
