I must admit I wasn't expecting to see any rattlesnakes during our family break to central Arizona in February. But with temperatures being unseasonably high, often topping out above 80 deg F, conditions seemed favorable and indeed, park staff indicated that a few rattlers had already been seen when we visited McDowell Mountain Regional Park near Fountain Hills on Feb 19th. We hiked the Lousely Hill Trail and I constantly reminded Matan to watch where he was putting his feet and hands throughout the hike. It was a snake-free hike until we'd almost reached the parking the lot, then Susannah and Matan suddenly spotted this beauty sprawled across the footpath no more that 40 meters from our car. It was bold but not aggressive and held its ground until we walked around it, shortly after which it slithered into the undergrowth.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus atrox - McDowell Mountain Regional Park (near Fountain Hills), Maricopa Co., AZ.
February 19th, 2014.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park (near Fountain Hills), Maricopa Co., AZ. February 19th, 2014.
View from Lousely Hill Trail.
It was green and very spring-like in the park with lots of classic desert birds in full song including Curve-billed and Crissal Thrashers, Cactus Wren, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Costa's Hummingbird and Black-throated Sparrow.
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher - male, McDowell Mountain Regional Park (near Fountain Hills), Maricopa Co., AZ. February 19th, 2014.
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