Red Diamond Rattlesnake lounging under a bush to get out of the heat.

Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber) Conservation Status: vulnerable (S3) in California. Distinctive black and white bars in front of the rattle.

Rattlesnakes are typically described as poisonous, but they are actually venomous. A poisonous snake is one that is harmful to eat. A venomous snake injects dangerous venom into its victim.

Rattlesnakes are important members of the natural community. They will not attack, but if disturbed or cornered, they will defend themselves. Reasonable watchfulness should be sufficient to avoid snakebite. Give them distance and respect.

Rattlesnakes are also among the most reasonable forms of dangerous wildlife: their first line of defense is to remain motionless; if you surprise them or cut off their retreat, they offer an audio warning; if you get too close, they head for cover. Venom is intended for prey so they're reluctant to bite, and 25 to 50 percent of all bites are dry - no venom is injected." Leslie Anthony. Snakebit: Confessions of a Herpetologist. Greystone Books, 2008.

Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of California http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/c.ruber.html