Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

FM Forum Rules
Nature & Wildlife Posting Guidelines

FM Forums | Nature & Wildlife | Join Upload & Sell

2 end

Archive 2013 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

ckcarr
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

I found this somewhere. "The largest documented Western Diamondback from Arizona is 5' 6" in length, with another possible record, not well documented, at 6 feet."

I was hiking with a friend down in Arizona in a remote section of the Superstition Mountains this weekend. We stopped under a group of trees to relax and look at a giant tree trunk. So I walked into this group of trees to get a closer look at it. Somehow, out of the corner of my eye I saw something not normal. As my eyes focused I saw a BIG Western Diamondback rattlesnake around two feet from my foot. Fortunately I can still move VERY Fast!! After we had a big laugh about it and how the next step would be a doozy, I managed to snap some shots. He was a very cooperative model!

The reason I posted the above size reference is because this particular snake was somewhere between 4 1/2 and 5 feet. When it uncoiled it kept getting longer and longer... It's the largest snake I've ever seen. Our rattlesnakes here are only 1 1/2 feet long... It was pretty impressive! My only disappointment was I could not get him to show his fangs...

Thanks for looking!


	© ckcarr 2013


	© ckcarr 2013


	© ckcarr 2013

Edited on May 28, 2013 at 11:37 PM · View previous versions

May 27, 2013 at 11:02 PM

sritri
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Wow. I am having goose bumps seeing the 2nd one! Looks menacing!

May 27, 2013 at 11:07 PM

harshaj1
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

I am glad you didn't see his fangs at close quarters. Really nice details.
Harsha

May 27, 2013 at 11:08 PM

KirkB
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Really cool encounter and you captured some really nice images here Craig.

1 and 5 are the standouts for me... yeah, that is one big Rattler.

Very nice work.

Kirk

May 27, 2013 at 11:17 PM

tfoltz
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Very cool

-Tim

May 27, 2013 at 11:21 PM

KINGOFKNGS
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Where's the 800mm when you need it?!

Number 1 is stunning and a definite wall hanger!

On the last photo, do you have any extra room you could add at the bottom of the photo? It seems just a TAD tight there.

Ryan

May 27, 2013 at 11:22 PM

Shiva dancing
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Great photos with wonderful detail.

May 27, 2013 at 11:58 PM

jdc562
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Beautiful shots. #1 is incredibly nice--good use of all those pixels.
---John

May 28, 2013 at 12:53 AM

Callisto
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Great shots! You got me interested so I did some searching about these guys. I saw an old photo from Nelson, Nevada just across the Colorado river from Arizona of a rattler that was measured at 7'1". The largest ever recorded was in west Texas at 7'7". Your snake would raise the hair on any sane person. I love the stare of number 1 - you blinked first, I bet.

May 28, 2013 at 01:06 AM

kmunroe
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

sweet lookin snake Craig

May 28, 2013 at 03:49 AM

eyelaser
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Love snakes but 2 feet is close and certainly within strike range. I doubt you would have wanted to see its fangs then. Interesting that you don't mention the warning rattle. I have heard many are becoming silent as a defensive adaptation to being found and killed by humans. Super photos!
Thanks for sharing and having quick feet!
Eric

May 28, 2013 at 05:25 AM

Desert Drake
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Craig, that was quite the capture you made. Glad you didn't take that extra step. We had a 4 footer on the patio when my wife let her newly acquired King Charles spaniel pup out to go to the bathroom. My gosh, you should have heard her scream! Of course I grabbed my camera first. I really liked #1, #2, and #5. I can see why that large snake hung around that area. They sure are beautiful but also mindful how fragile we are---
Al

May 28, 2013 at 05:53 AM

surfnron
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

A very nice set Craig. 1 is super ~ Ron

May 28, 2013 at 06:05 AM

KCollett
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Terrifyingly cool. Super detail in #1. You put the pit in pit viper with that shot. An excellent set resulted from your encounter.

May 28, 2013 at 06:54 AM

ckcarr
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Thanks guys!
It was like a catch and release of a giant fish! Of course we didn't hurt it, and it went on it's way eventually. The scary part was how it completely blended into the tall grasses, even just a foot off the road.

It never hissed, never rattled. I think this might explain that part.
BEHAVIOR: "... When a coiled snake is encountered it will often remain motionless, presumably to avoid detection. Failing that it may raise the head into a striking pose, rattle, and slowly retreat toward shelter."
from http://www.reptilesofaz.org/snakes.html

They did name their baseball team after them too!

May 28, 2013 at 10:26 AM

TurbosLS1ta
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

*

Edited on May 28, 2013 at 12:12 PM · View previous versions

May 28, 2013 at 11:39 AM

JimFox
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Hey Craig,

I am glad you didn't step on the guy. You got a nice series of shots there.

Jim

May 28, 2013 at 11:56 AM

David Leask
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Some of these focal lengths are way too wide for me Craig

I would need 5000mm or longer!
Great shots.
David

May 28, 2013 at 04:08 PM

jcw1982
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Very set of photographs-I really like the detail and scale patterns in #1.

May 28, 2013 at 04:50 PM

treebeard
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · BIG Arizona Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Awesome photos...#1 is wicked cool!

May 28, 2013 at 05:29 PM

1 2 end
FM Forums \| Nature & Wildlife \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 end

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.