Crotalus oreganus is a venomous pit viper species found in North America in the western United States, parts of British Columbia, and northwestern Mexico. Seven subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Mortality tends to be high in first-year young.
May congregate at hibernation dens; formerly many den sites harbored up to several hundred snakes, but most of these populations have been decimated by humans.
Primary predators include humans, various mammalian carnivores, raptors, kingsnakes, whipsnakes, and racers.
The sound emitted from a vibrating rattle is fairly loud and may continue uninterrupted for several minutes in an aroused, fully warmed rattlesnakesnake. Burrowing owls and gophers snakes, which often share mammal burrows with rattlesnakes, produce hissing vocalizations that sound very much like the rattling of a rattlesnake.
Taxonomy:family | Viperidae |
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Iucn status | Least_Concern |