A rare identification thread

[Zelg]

Ok. Sarcastic title aside, I'm totally new to herping and still very new to snakes in general. Its been a late-blooming interest I guess you could say. I have my ball python that isnt even a year old yet (I think) and I cant even say I'm a herper. The past couple of years I've taken up hiking as a form of exercise but of course hiking the same trails over and over gets boring. So last night I say to myself (after watching youtube videos of herpers) "I'm going to go to Montana de Oro tomorrow and take a hike with the intention of actually looking for something along the trails instead of just hiking for the sake of hiking." Never did I think I'd actually find anything other than the usual lizards and birds in the bushes.

So I get on the trail and not even 30 yards before I see this guy looking at me. Not moving, not shaking his rattle, just staring me down. Obviously I can tell its a rattlesnake but having this be the first rattlesnake I've ever seen in person (lived in california my whole life and honestly have never seen a snake in the wild) I just assume its a western diamond back and I move on. I have no idea, so I get home and hit up google to find a little more about it and I'm a bit stumped. I'm terrible with markings (simple things like a color variation will throw me off) but what I came up with, at least in my eyes, is that it is a Southern Pacific Rattlesnake.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ooaKeX8phsU/U0xo1_EtdaI/AAAAAAAACdE/C_-kKh5tvrI/w1149-h862-no/CAM00044.jpg

This is my comparison photo http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/images/cohellerisdcocg.jpg

Anyways, let me know what you think. Sorry if this is just a really dumb and obvious thing :)

[Primal Rage]

Zelg,
Congrats on your find! It looks like a Northern Pacific Rattlesnake. Seeing venomous snakes in the wild is always a rush!.. It's official now...You are a herper! Thank you for sharing the pic and keep them coming.

[sharthun]

Awesome! sounds like your hooked now! Beautiful snake and find!

[jpsteele80]

Awesome find, congrats and welcome to the club :D

[pdomensis]

Nice looking snake with a good long rattle!

[Zelg]

Thanks for the ID. And yes, definitely hooked :)

[pdomensis]

Thanks for the ID. And yes, definitely hooked :)

and you'll never find one that easily again.

[sharthun]

and you'll never find one that easily again.

That's the truth! :p

[Zelg]

and you'll never find one that easily again.

Haha yea I was totally caught by surprise. Never expected to find any snake let alone a rattler. The place where I was hiking is really dense as far as the bushes go so its either on the trail or nothing for the most part. I certainly dont expect to see them that often and like I said I've gone my whole life in So. California without seeing one that someone hadnt already killed in their backyard or something.

[Tonka14]

Awesome find and welcome to the club. I have live in Fla almost my entire life and have only come across 2 rattle snakes the entire time and I go out searching for them. I can find cotton mouths all day long though.