Need Help in ID'ing This Rattler Please

This was at our ranch in Spray, Oregon (Wheeler County) and we'd love to be able to ID this snake. My son gets to write me a report on safety protocols for handling HOT's; he'll get to that as soon I finish giving him a can of whoop @ss...

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Crotalus oreganus?

I dont know- but I hink that rattlers, along with most hots are beautiful snakes!! If I was to ever get one, I think I would like a Gaboon- but I will never get one, so oh well. lol. Tell your son good luck with the report!

C. v. oreganus, good ol Northern Pacific version of the Western Rattlesnake.

Are you sure Wes? We seem to have C. viridis and C.v. oreganus out there. Perhaps he ought to report on both species in addition to the proper handling of HOTs.

Kids- sheesh :rolleyes:

That green color makes me think Mojave rattler.. :D

http://k53.pbase.com/v3/04/583104/2/...sMay292004.jpg

maybe have him right a report with identifing characteristics of every species native to your area. That way he is aware of the potential of those little cute snakes out there. I thought the yellow belly racer our daughter wanted to bring home was bad.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

That green color makes me think Mojave rattler.. :D

http://k53.pbase.com/v3/04/583104/2/...sMay292004.jpg

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The Mojaves are smaller and don't range that far up.

I've never heard of any viridis up that far but he may have found the first.

I suppose a scientific write up and submission to the proper authorities to verify would be in order.

MUAHAhahahHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahaha

I see southerns fairly often down here and northerns not to often when I manage to escape this pit. My guess is it's a northern.

I agree about the mojave thought- though thanks Ed! :D

As for my boy-child: He's my 16 year old who is working his butt off to get into Univ of Montana to major in wildlife biology and minor in zoology. His reason for such a display of brain-death? "It just had the most peaceful vibe Mom; and it was such a beauty!!" Me thinks I allowed Steve Irwin into his life at a very impressionable age!! ;)

As for the paper: He needs to cite sources and no, Wiki does not count. He also gets to call Fish and Wildlife and talk to them and try to figure out the species. He doesn't get to go out to the ranch again until the paper is finished... muah hahahah :rofl: Taking it up to the Univ of Oregon branch campus for submission is not a bad idea. He's already taken a class from them....the smarty-pants :P

Thanks everyone!

Wow thats a cool snake though, Ive seen a ton of rattle snakes but never one without diamonds on its back, that one has perfect circles all the way down..

So, here's the word from our nice Fish & Wildlife guy. We have both subspecies since we're on the river:

Hi,

There is only one species of rattlesnake in Oregon; the western
rattlesnake. Within that species we have two sub-species; (1)northern pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis oreganus), and the great basin rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis lutosus). Your snake is a good looking northern pacific rattlesnake. It has a cool tinge of green in the background color. Not all oreganus have that.
Great basin's have a lighter background color and wider spacing between the back markings, or diamonds as some people call them.
In the Spray area you could have both sub-species but oreganus is more likely north of the John day River and lutosus more likely to the south.

Hope that helps. Call if you have more questions.

Simon

Simon Wray
ODFW/ODOT Coordinator

Gotta love Fish and Wildlife, they’re a useful resource :D