Coyote Peterson and his team are searching for western diamondback rattlesnakes in the desert of Arizona. They are in a private stretch of property near the Superstition Mountains, which used to be a goldmine but has been reclaimed by the wild. Coyote believes that where you find rodents, you will find snakes, so they are looking for signs of rodent activity. After searching through the underbrush, they finally spot a massive western diamondback rattlesnake. Coyote carefully approaches the snake and tries to get it to curl up into a tube, which he uses to safely contain it. He then examines the snake, pointing out its unique features, such as its rattle, heat-sensing pits, and forked tongue. Coyote also talks about the snake's venom, which is highly toxic and can be lethal. However, he emphasizes that the snake is not aggressive and only bites in self-defense. He advises people to leave rattlesnakes alone if they encounter them in the wild and to seek professional help if they need to remove one from their property.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The western diamondback rattlesnake is Arizona's most commonly encountered venomous snake.
2. The snake is also known as the outlaw viper.
3. Western diamondback rattlesnakes are found in the deserts of the Southwest.
4. These snakes are pit vipers with heat-sensing pits in front of their eyes.
5. They rely on these pits to sense the heat registry of an animal in their environment.
6. Western diamondback rattlesnakes primarily target rodents, such as kangaroo rats, for food.
7. They strike their prey, bite down, and inject venom, which eventually causes the prey to succumb and be consumed.
8. The snakes have a forked tongue that they use to smell and taste their environment.
9. They bring their tongue back into their mouths and run it over the Jacobson's organ to gather information.
10. Western diamondback rattlesnakes are nocturnal, but they can be active during the day, especially in the early morning or just before sunset.
11. They rely on the sun to heat up their bodies.
12. The snakes are opportunistic and will strike if something comes close to them.
13. Western diamondback rattlesnakes are one of the most venomous snakes in the United States.
14. The size of the snake determines the yield of venom, with larger snakes producing more venom.
15. A bite from a western diamondback rattlesnake can be potentially lethal.
16. Antivenom is available for the species, but bites can still cause necrosis and loss of limbs.
17. Most bites occur when humans interact with, harass, or try to kill the snakes.
18. The western diamondback rattlesnake is an important balancer of the desert ecosystem.
19. Rattlesnakes can be safely removed and relocated by wildlife removal services or local fire departments.