Wildlife of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast - Part XVI

This will be the last of our series on Wildlife Photos taken since the start of the Coronavirus Pandemic:

Tarantula

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Zebra-tailed Lizard

Wildlife of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast - Part XIII

Continuing with recent photos taken at The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast. We typically see snakes during the spring and summer so now is the time.


The first two are the most frequently seen snakes here at The Azure Gate:

Desert Kingsnake

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Here are two we don't see quite as often:

Sonoran Gopher Snake

Sonoran Shovel-nose Snake

The Azure Gate Snakes

It's that time of year when we start seeing snakes again.

Over the years we have seen 10 different species of snakes on our property. It's not a daily occurrence. We see a Desert Kingsnake 7 or 8 times a year. We see a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake four or five times a year. They are the most common. We see a Sonoran Gopher Snake a couple times a year and then occasionally Black Racers, Sonoran Coachwhip, Bullsnake, Sonoran Shovel-Nose Snake, Western Long-Nose Snake, and Sonoran Mountain Snake.

Last week we had a Desert Kingsnake in the area around our pool. He was after a clutch of Quail eggs that were in a Red Cane Yucca pot on the upper level of our oasis. It took him quite a while to figure out how to get there. In the meantime, the mother Quail was in a nearby tree squawking. The eggs had just hatched and the baby chicks were scurrying around in the pot trying to figure out what to do. The Kingsnake (fortunately for the baby Quail) finally gave up.

Also last week a large Western Diamondback Rattlesnake paid us a visit. (Large meaning 5 foot in length and weighing in the neighborhood of 6 pounds). When first seen he was drinking water from a bird bath. He then "slithered" under a porch chair and became agitated as more of our guests came by for looks and photos. (Agitated meaning rapidly moving his upper body back and forth while rattling). Christine calmly talked to the rattler and he eventually calmed down and slithered off to a spot under one of our pomegranate trees. After everyone got their photos I suggested that we let him be. I checked back 30 minutes later and he was gone.

Desert Kingsnake

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Hiking and Birding Sabino Canyon

Yesterday, Christine and I hiked Sabino Canyon up to the dam where we birded for a hour or so. Then further up the creek another mile, across the creek to the tram road and back down to the parking area.

Did I find the Louisiana Waterthrush I was looking for? In a word no. But, as is often the case, I came home pretty happy. 

A nice 4 1/2 foot long Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

A youngish Gila Monster

A lovely male Broad Billed Hummingbird happily drinking from a Sacred Datura

A beautiful Townsend's Warbler

A sweet little Verdin

And a needed bit of exercise.

Here are some photos:

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Gila Monster

Male Broad Billed Hummingbird

Townsend's Warbler

Verdin

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

From wildflowers to rattlesnakes. The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake's range is from Arkansas to California and into Mexico. Typically it grows to about 4 feet, less than half the size of a bull snake. Yet, obviously a bit more dangerous. 

If you believe what you see and hear at the movies, they are everywhere in the desert and you have to kill them before they kill you. We just watched a delightful movie (Fools Rush In) where the male lead goes with his hispanic wife's brothers into the desert where he finds himself surrounded by a dozen rattlesnakes. Maybe there is a place/situation like that but I've been hiking and photographing in the Arizona desert for 12 years and never seen more than one rattler at a time. And, never ever had to kill one.

We have them living on our property although rarely see them -- maybe four times a year. For the most part they stay underground. Nonetheless, I always marvel at their beauty and significance when I see them.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Photographing Snakes

Yesterday, I mentioned the challenge of photographing snakes. This morning one of our guest saw a baby rattlesnake on our property (which isn't that unusual this time of the year). She said it was coiled with the coil about 5 inches in diameter, which would make it a very young snake (body the diameter of a pencil). I thought I would show a couple of snake photos showing the challenge. All are Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes:

Here in the first case, the snake is stretch out and on the move (you can click on the photo to enlarge). Obviously it is difficult to get close enough for good detail and still have the entire snake in the photo. 

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake take on our property

 In the following case, the snake is curled, allowing for nice detail:

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake taken in the Trigo Mountains, Arizona

 And, in the last case, the snake is coiled, again allowing for nice detail:

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake taken in Saguaro National Park

So, if you want a good photo of a  Rattlesnake it is best if they are curled or coiled. Of course, that also happens to be a defensive position giving them maximum striking range. And, as Christine always admonishes me, is it worth a photo?? Respect is the essential or key word --- as it is in photographing bears.

Slytherin Part END

Harry Potter is over, and now Slytherin is over -- well at least for now. The last part of Slytherin will be the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, which is the most common of the Rattlesnakes in Southern Arizona. I have seen the Black Rattlesnake several times, but never with camera in hand. 

Typically seen Western Diamondbacks grow to about 4 feet. Rarely seen are those of 5 feet or more (which can weigh up to 15 pounds). It's range is from California to Arkansas and south into Mexico. Its life expectancy is about 20 years -- excluding those prematurely killed by humans. They hibernate during the winter months so are typically seen from early April through October.

As adults their diet consists mainly of rabbits, prairie dogs, squirrels, rats, mice, voles etc. Younger ones prey more on lizards and small birds.

From a practical point of view, Tucson gets 5-10 rattlesnake bites per year. Mostly men, and often provoking the snake intentionally. Rattlesnake bites are extremely painful and sometimes (10 to 20%) fatal. Treatment of severe bites can take up to six months at a cost of $50,000 or more. As a general rule however, rattlesnakes aren't interested in biting humans since it depletes their venom and makes paralyzing prey more difficult until the venom is restored. We see two to four rattlesnakes on our property each year, although they probably live on the property year round.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake serpentined

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake coiled

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake rattle

National Wildlife Refuges

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona, 1941

The Colorado River and associated backwater lakes and wetlands of Imperial National Wildlife Refuge are a green oasis, contrasting with the surrounding desert mountains. Consisting of over 26,000 acres, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge protects wildlife habitat along 30 miles of the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California, including the last unchannelized section before the river enters Mexico.

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge also contains more than 15,000 acres of federally designated wilderness. Wilderness is protected to ensure that nature, not people is the primary influence on this quiet, scenic place.

In addition to the Visitor Center, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge provides opportunities to hike, fish, hunt, and watch wildlife. While the bird species list has 271 species, it is the Desert Bighorn Sheep and Feral Burros that keep me coming back. There is one road that runs through the Refuge which soon becomes 4x4 only as it enters a corner of the Yuma Proving Ground, and then 4x4 high clearance only when it enters private land, and finally 4x4 high clearance nerves of steel only as it approaches the moon. (Okay slight exaggeration). You do have to drive through some very sandy washes as well as steep rocky hills and cliffs.

Below are a few of the photos I've taken there: 

Ash Throated Flycatcher

Black Tail Jackrabbit

Desert Bighorn Sheep on Mountain Top

Desert Bighorn Sheep 

Desert Bighorn Rams

Feral Burros

Feral Burro Family

Feral Burro with a look of the terrain

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Life around The Azure Gate

There are also things to see around The Azure Gate. Maybe it is a Coyote passing through late in the morning; or maybe a snake or two (Sonoran Gopher Snake, Desert Kingsnake, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake) or maybe one of many Round Tail Ground Squirrels poking their head up out of their burrow --  all of which we've seen here in the past week.

Coyote

Sonoran Gopher Snake

Desert Kingsnake

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Round Tailed Ground Squirrel

Two more photos from Imperial NWR

I came across this female with her colt as I was hiking in one of the washes at Imperial National Wildlife Refuge (on the Colorado River) in Southwestern Arizona. It was a challenge to get a clear photo as they were running through the vegetation. But, there is something about it that I like. The second photo is a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake I came upon. Snakes are difficult to photograph when they are stretch out. You have to get back too far to get the entire snake, but it then looks too small. But, when coiled or wound sideways, like this one, it can turn out to be a nice photo. This rattlesnake seemed perfectly content to stay exactly how he is in the photo. I came across him like that. And, I left him like that.

last of the Snakes (for now)

Back to the snakes for one last day. Three years ago I was in the Florida Mountains in Southwestern New Mexico (about three hours from us). I was looking for Ibex,  wild goats from the middle east that were brought to New Mexico and released in the 1950's. Their population now ranges from 400 to 600, all in the Florida Mountains, south of Deming. They are extremely difficult to find and get close to. I saw one through a spotting scope but that was all. Anyway, as I was looking I came across two snakes. The first was a Western Coachwhip (first photo), the second was a Western Hognose Snake (second photo). The third photo is a large Western Diamondback Rattlesnake I came across as I was hiking in Saguaro National Park. He was sleeping in the middle of the trail. Just a reminder to always watch were you walk when hiking in the desert.

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

So there I was just finishing yesterday's blog about snakes. I walked out to get the morning newspaper, going through a little wooden gate. I got the newspaper and came back and there fast asleep in the middle of the gate was a baby rattlesnake. I obviously did not see him when I went through the gate. I must have stepped right over him (that's a scary thought). I'm glad I didn't step on him. He was all curled up and still asleep. Coiled up he was about the size of a fist. Without a doubt the smallest rattlesnake I have ever seen.  I went around (via the driveway) got my camera and came back and took this photo. There wasn't good lighting and I didn't want to disturb him, so this is the best I could get. You can see his arrow-shaped head pointing toward the upper left corner of the photo. Eyes are closed though. I went back after breakfast to check and see if he was gone -- and, he was. It's exciting when the desert provides us with these little surprises.

Rattlesnakes! Yikes!

On the subject of rattlesnakes, it is important to watch where you walk in desert areas. Christine likes to run a 2.2 miles loop in Saguaro National Park (east). Early one morning I was hiking the loop alone and found this western diamondback lying just under a stepping stone directly in the middle of the path. With prickly pear cactus on either side of the path, it meant doing a little bush-wacking. (I would not recommend walking over a rattlesnake -- especially one that is coiled like this one). I thought it was a little dangerous to have him there, but as I have said before, I am not one to move a rattlesnake that doesn't want to be moved. Sometimes if one is stretched across a road I'll try to encourage it to move to the other side so it doesn't get run over. But, I have the utmost respect for rattlesnakes. Even when not fatal, a rattlesnake bite can take up to six months of severe pain before healing.  Costs to treat a rattlesnake bite can be as much as $50,000. In my mind, that deserves respect. Having said that, rattlesnakes are NOT aggressive toward humans. We do not represent food to them. As a general rule, they don't want to inject their poison because it leaves them temporarily unprotected. So, they bite when threatened -- or, when eating. Usually, when you come across one they are on the move and you just let them continue. In our first year here, Christine and I were walking around the property when we both noticed this tiny little birds nest (a verdin). As we got closer  we evidently scared off the verdin. This, however, had distracted us from watching where we were walking. At this point I heard a "rattle", looked down and saw a full size western diamondback rattlesnake coiled about three feet from  Christine. Without thinking I pushed Christine away (as it turns out into a bit of cholla cactus) but, now out of danger. The rattlesnake wandered off about 15-20 feet and draped himself over some prickly pear cactus -- I guess exhausted from the "scare,"  which seemed to be Christine's reaction as well.

Christine's "Little Voice"

We are back to The Azure Gate and some wildlife stories. Night before last Christine had this little voice saying that our master bedroom courtyard did not have enough light and that it wouldn't be a good idea to step on a rattlesnake. I'm thinking, "well, at least for now the rattlesnakes are probably underground and we won't see one until Spring, if then."  We don't really see a lot of rattlesnakes on our property anyway; maybe once or twice a year. But, her premonitions are sometimes scary. Sure enough we look outside in the courtyard and there is a baby western diamondback rattlesnake. So there is discussion, not the least important of which is "what to do with this rattlesnake in our courtyard?" I wasn't eager to pick him up and move him out to the desert. Nor, did I want to call 911. Ultimately, we decided to let him be and that if we saw him again in the courtyard we would call the Tucson Animal Rescue and have them take him away. The photo above is another story from two years ago. Christine opened one of our gates to go out to the mail box to get mail. She stopped dead in her tracks because she saw a couple of quail and a curved bill thrasher nervously standing about right in her way. This is unusual. Typically, quail will run away when they get that close to people. So, Christine is subconsciously thinking something is wrong. Sure enough seconds later the above rattlesnake comes across the path right where Christine would have been walking had she not stopped. Over the years I've learned to pay attention to her "little voice."