Snakes in Arizona: Rattlesnakes and Other Species to Know

How many snakes live in Arizona?

Arizona has more than 50 native snake species, thanks to its mix of low Sonoran and Mojave deserts, desert grassland, high plateaus and forested “sky island” mountains. The 13 rattlesnakes are the dangerously venomous group, joined by the Sonoran coral snake. A few other species have weak venom and grooved rear teeth, but they are not dangerous to people.

Western diamondback rattlesnake

The western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) is the rattlesnake most Arizonans picture. It is a heavy-bodied, gray to brown snake with light-edged diamonds down its back and a “coontail” of bold black and white bands just before the rattle. Adults commonly reach about 1.2 m (4 ft).

It lives in desert scrub, grassland and rocky foothills across southern and western Arizona, including the edges of Phoenix and Tucson. Because it is large, common and often found near homes, it causes many of the state’s rattlesnake bites. When disturbed, it usually coils, raises its head and rattles loudly; to learn how the warning works, see Why do rattlesnakes rattle?.

Mojave rattlesnake

The Mojave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) looks very similar to the western diamondback but is often greenish, and the white bands on its tail are usually wider than the black ones. It prefers flatter, more open desert and grassland. Many Mojave populations carry Mojave toxin, a powerful nerve-affecting component, which is why this species is treated as one of the most dangerous rattlesnakes in North America. Some populations in Arizona lack this toxin, but every bite is an emergency.

Sidewinder

The sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes) is a small, pale rattlesnake of sandy deserts in western Arizona, usually 43–80 cm (17–31 in) long. It has a raised, horn-like scale above each eye and moves across loose sand by “sidewinding,” throwing its body sideways in loops so that only two points touch the hot sand at once. It leaves distinctive J-shaped tracks. Young sidewinders wiggle the tip of their tail to lure lizards.

Tiger rattlesnake

The tiger rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris) has a very small head, a large rattle and gray to pinkish crossbands that give it its name. It lives among rocks in the desert mountains of central and southern Arizona and south into Sonora, Mexico. Adults average about 61 cm (2 ft). Like most rattlesnakes, it eats mainly rodents and lizards.

Black-tailed rattlesnake

The black-tailed rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) is one of Arizona’s most attractive snakes: olive, yellow or greenish with dark diamond-like blotches and an all-black tail. It lives in rocky canyons, oak woodland and mountain slopes from central to southeastern Arizona, and it is often seen basking near trails in ranges such as the Santa Catalina Mountains.

Arizona’s other rattlesnakes

• Southwestern speckled rattlesnake (Crotalus pyrrhus): a rock-dwelling snake of western Arizona whose color, from pale gray to pinkish or tan, often matches the local rock.
• Arizona black rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus): young snakes are blotched, but adults darken until they look almost black. It lives in the mountains and canyons of central and eastern Arizona, and studies have found mothers staying with their newborn young.
• Prairie and western rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis and Crotalus oreganus): the Hopi rattlesnake of northeastern grassland belongs to the prairie rattlesnake, while the pinkish Grand Canyon rattlesnake and the Great Basin rattlesnake of the far northwest belong to the western rattlesnake.
• Rock rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus): a small, gray, banded rattlesnake of rocky slopes in the southeastern mountains.
• Ridge-nosed rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi): Arizona’s state reptile, 30–60 cm (1–2 ft) long, with white stripes on its face. It lives in the Huachuca, Santa Rita and a few other sky island ranges.
• Twin-spotted rattlesnake (Crotalus pricei): a small, gray snake with paired spots, found in the high, rocky forests of a few southeastern mountains.
• Desert massasauga (Sistrurus tergeminus): a small rattlesnake of desert grassland in the far southeast, where it is rare.

Sonoran coral snake

The Sonoran coral snake (Micruroides euryxanthus), also called the Arizona coral snake, is a slim snake usually 28–61 cm (11–24 in) long, with bands of red, black and yellow or white, where the red bands touch the pale ones. It lives in rocky desert, grassland and canyons in central and southern Arizona and spends most of its time underground, coming out mainly at night and after rain. It eats blind snakes and other small snakes.

Its venom affects the nervous system and is very potent, but the snake is small, shy and rarely bites, and no human deaths from its bite have been reported. When disturbed, it often hides its head under its coils and raises its curled tail. It should never be picked up.

Mildly venomous rear-fanged snakes

Several Arizona snakes have mild venom delivered by grooved teeth at the back of the mouth. They use it to subdue lizards, frogs and small rodents, and they are not considered dangerous to people. The Sonoran lyre snake, a slender, big-eyed snake of rocky areas, has a lyre-shaped mark on its head. The small night snake, the black-headed snakes and the brown vine snake of a few southeastern canyons also belong to this group.

Harmless snakes and look-alikes

Most snakes Arizonans meet are harmless. The Sonoran gopher snake is the classic rattlesnake look-alike: a large, blotched, tan and brown snake that hisses loudly, flattens its head and vibrates its tail in dry leaves. It has a narrow head, round pupils and no rattle, and it is a valuable predator of rodents.

• Kingsnakes: the black-and-white banded California kingsnake and the yellow-speckled desert kingsnake eat other snakes, including rattlesnakes, and resist their venom.
• Sonoran mountain kingsnake: red, black and white bands make it a convincing coral snake mimic, but it lives in mountain forests and canyons, and its red bands touch black ones.
• Coachwhip and whipsnakes: long, very fast snakes that hunt by day. Some Arizona coachwhips are bright pink or red, earning the name red racer.
• Western patch-nosed snake, glossy snake, long-nosed snake and shovel-nosed snake: small to medium desert snakes, some with bands that recall a coral snake.
• Rosy boa and western threadsnake: a slow, gentle boa of rocky western deserts and a tiny, worm-like burrowing snake that eats ant and termite larvae.

Arizona’s garter snakes include two that depend on streams and are now federally threatened: the northern Mexican garter snake and the narrow-headed garter snake.

When are snakes active in Arizona?

Snakes in Arizona follow the seasons. Most rattlesnakes come out of winter dens around March, and April and May are busy months, with snakes active by day. In the heat of June to September, they switch to dusk and night activity, and the humid nights of the summer monsoon bring out large numbers of snakes, including coral snakes. Activity drops in October and November, and most snakes spend the winter in rock crevices or burrows, though they may bask on warm afternoons. For more detail, see When are rattlesnakes most active?.

Where to see snakes safely

Snakes are often seen on trails and roads in Saguaro National Park, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and the sky island ranges of southeastern Arizona, such as the Santa Catalina, Huachuca and Chiricahua Mountains. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson displays many native species up close and safely. For the state’s other famous venomous reptile, see the Gila monster.

Staying safe around snakes

Venomous snakebites are uncommon, and deaths are rare. Across the whole US, the CDC estimates that about 7,000–8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year and about five die. Most bites happen when someone tries to catch, move or kill a snake, or steps or reaches near one without seeing it.

• Give every snake space. Stay at least a few steps away and let it move off. Never touch, catch or poke a snake, even one that looks dead.
• Watch where you put your hands and feet, especially around rocks, woodpiles and brush, and carry a flashlight on summer nights.
• Wear closed shoes and long pants when hiking, and keep dogs on a leash on desert trails.
• If someone is bitten, call 911 immediately and get the person to emergency medical care as fast as possible.