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Richie
12-11-2010, 02:17 PM
Hiking in the Sand Cove we encountered a rattlesnake.

But I'm curious, what kind of rattlesnake it is. Anyone a snake-expert?

39728
ratagonia
12-11-2010, 04:13 PM
Hiking in the Sand Cove we encountered a rattlesnake.

But I'm curious, what kind of rattlesnake it is. Anyone a snake-expert?

39728

Nice pic!

The NPS lists the Western Rattlesnake as the only Rattlesnake in Zion, and thus that makes it a good candidate. Where is Sand Cove?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalus_oreganus

The pattern on the back is 'highly variable', which means don't be too picky on what the other pictures look like.

See also here:

http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/rave/1007bush/index.htm

Tom
dioscuriII
12-11-2010, 07:27 PM
Tom's right. Western rattlesnake. Many variation on this rattler.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalus_viridis

is another that is in Idaho and Wyoming.
Richie
12-12-2010, 03:06 AM
Tom, Sandcove is part of the Coyote Buttes North Area.

Am I wrong, or is the Western rattlesnake one of the more poisonous?
chay1950
12-13-2010, 06:18 AM
I am no snake expert, but I have studied the pictures of this snake, the Western rattler and the Prairie rattler. I think the markings are more similar to the Prairie Rattler. For more information about these snakes go to my website http://www.fossilbackpackinggear.com/poisonous-snakes.html. Click on the name of the snake next to the picture. Whichever one it is, Western or Prairie, You want to give it a wide berth.
chay1950
12-13-2010, 06:22 AM
Another point on this snake is that the Western and Prairie rattlers were thought to be the same breed of snake. But is now recognized as 2 separate breeds. They may share a den together. However, It's really a mute point if you get bitten.
nat
12-13-2010, 08:11 AM
"Western Rattlesnake" is the species, of which there are many subspecies, the Prarie Rattler being one. In Utah, there are two subspecies of the Western Rattler, the Great Basin Rattlesnake, and the Midget Faded Rattlesnake. If Sandcove is by Coyote Buttes, then it is most likely a Midget Faded Rattlesnake. The Great Basin Rattlesnake is found in Zion, but rattlesnakes from South Central and South East Utah are Midget Faded ones.

Nat
DOSS
12-13-2010, 08:16 AM
You are all wrong.. I know this snake.. we had a conversation a few months back his name is Frank.. Sheesh :eek2:
Richie
12-13-2010, 09:12 AM
I've a got it right, Western Rattler is the species, with Prarie Rattler, Midget Faded Rattler and Great Basin Rattler beeing subspecies of the Western Rattler? And in the Coyote Buttes area it's most likely beeing a Midget Faded?

Anyway I guess we where lucky hearing the rattle and paying attention where we were going to because the rattler was right in the way we were heading. :eek2:
dioscuriII
12-13-2010, 11:18 AM
You are all wrong.. I know this snake.. we had a conversation a few months back his name is Frank.. Sheesh :eek2:

HAH! Nice answer.
Philippe
12-13-2010, 03:03 PM
You are all wrong.. I know this snake.. we had a conversation a few months back his name is Frank.. Sheesh :eek2:


As a french guy not fluent in English, I don't understand what means this answer. Could somebody help me, please ?

Philippe
DOSS
12-13-2010, 03:17 PM
As a french guy not fluent in English, I don't understand what means this answer. Could somebody help me, please ?

Philippe

It was a sarcastic reply, I replied directly to the question asked in the title of this post instead of to the meaning that the OP was going for :)
Philippe
12-13-2010, 03:23 PM
It was a sarcastic reply, I replied directly to the question asked in the title of this post instead of to the meaning that the OP was going for :)

Thank you for your answer, but who is Frank Sheesh ?

I don't know the name of the snake (I just know it is a bull snake) who asked me for a lift during my last trip in Utah because it was not very talkative when I let it come into my SUV.

39743

Philippe
accadacca
12-13-2010, 03:59 PM
Thank you for your answer, but who is Frank Sheesh ?

I don't know the name of the snake (I just know it is a bull snake) who asked me for a lift during my last trip in Utah because it was not very talkative when I let it come into my SUV.

39743


Philippe

Yikes! :eek2:
denaliguide
12-13-2010, 04:59 PM
You are all wrong.. I know this snake.. we had a conversation a few months back his name is Frank.. Sheesh :eek2:

he introduced himself to me as earl. me thinks he speaks with forked tongue.
trackrunner
12-13-2010, 08:03 PM
Thank you for your answer, but who is Frank Sheesh ?



Frank is usually a first or given name. Sometimes it's a last or surname.

Sheesh is a slang term used variously to express disbelief, surprise, annoyance, etc (http://www.yourdictionary.com/sheesh)

with his sarcastic answer he was making a joke.
Philippe
12-14-2010, 01:37 AM
Frank is usually a first or given name. Sometimes it's a last or surname.

Sheesh is a slang term used variously to express disbelief, surprise, annoyance, etc (http://www.yourdictionary.com/sheesh)

with his sarcastic answer he was making a joke.

Thank you, Trackrunner.

Philippe