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CatfishKev

Interesting snake

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Customer sent me a pic of this one before relocating. I woulda liked to see more pics. Clearly a rattler but the pattern on the back looks a little off from a typical diamondback,  and the blacktails in the huachucas typically have a greenish yellow color.  What you guys think this species is?  This was found close to the huachuca foothills close to 92 and Hereford road.

@IA Born

After more pics guessing western

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3 minutes ago, Arizona Griz said:

It is a Massasauga. What a great find!

Never heard of one until now. Had to Google it. Definitely right. 

Pretty cool. 

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100% diamondback.  Juvenile, too, based on the single button.  In Arizona, desert massasaugas only live in one small part of southeastern Arizona, in the tobossa grasslands along Hwy 80 north of Douglas.  I found one DOR way back in the day during grad school while looking for mohaves along Hwy 80.

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10 hours ago, IA Born said:

100% diamondback.  Juvenile, too, based on the single button.  In Arizona, desert massasaugas only live in one small part of southeastern Arizona, in the tobossa grasslands along Hwy 80 north of Douglas.  I found one DOR way back in the day during grad school while looking for mohaves along Hwy 80.

I stand corrected. Thank you sir!

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On 8/18/2025 at 7:04 AM, Arizona Griz said:

I stand corrected. Thank you sir!

No worries at all and you're welcome! The first massasauga I found down there was a DOR.  It didn't look like a diamondback or a prairie (other potential option in that area). I collected it, thinking it was an abberent prairie rattlesnake. I got stopped later by AGFD. I showed him the live mohaves I'd collected and my collecting permit. He mentioned massasaugas being high on the poaching list. It hit me what I had. I poured through my permit to make sure I was legal. I also collected a DOR Gila monster that night, also legal since it was DOR. My graduate school professor just about lost his $h!t completely, even though it was perfectly legal. He just didn't want to deal with the stress and perceived grey area.

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Last couple weeks, we've been having an uptick in snake encounters on the place. Only 1 wdb but lots of racers, gopher and kings, sometimes 2 or three a day.

20250812_055534.thumb.jpg.1108b232f9afafbc699a03b1705b1510.jpg

 

 

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5 hours ago, Edge said:

Last couple weeks, we've been having an uptick in snake encounters on the place. Only 1 wdb but lots of racers, gopher and kings, sometimes 2 or three a day.

20250812_055534.thumb.jpg.1108b232f9afafbc699a03b1705b1510.jpg

 

 

Tim do you know what this Corn Looking Snake is?

 

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1 hour ago, PRDATR said:

Tim do you know what this Corn Looking Snake is?

 

I'm not Tim (he's way cooler than I), but I can tell you Its a red variation coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum).  I've seen them in red, tan, and dark black.  I'll see if I can find the pic of the black one I came across in Saguaro NP up in a mesquite tree.  Coachwhips are frequently called racers out west.  One of my least-favorite non-venomous snake species to get bitten by.

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7 hours ago, Edge said:

Last couple weeks, we've been having an uptick in snake encounters on the place. Only 1 wdb but lots of racers, gopher and kings, sometimes 2 or three a day.

20250812_055534.thumb.jpg.1108b232f9afafbc699a03b1705b1510.jpg

 

 

I'd love to hang out at your place!

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