There are two types of venomous snakes in the Pacific Northwest. They’re both Western Rattlesnake subspecies. These are the most widely distributed rattlesnakes in the United States and Canada.
The state of Washington only has one dangerously venomous reptile. That is the Northern Pacific Rattlesnake. Oregon is home to the Northern Pacific subspecies and the Great Basin subspecies.
We’ll talk about each of these snakes in the paragraphs below.
Pit Vipers
Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, and Cottonmouths belong to the venomous Crotalinae or pit viper family. Pit vipers have a facial pit between their nostril and eyes on each side of their face. These pits are actually specialized organs that detect body heat from warm-blooded prey. Pit organs enable pit vipers to strike their prey precisely, even in the dark. They are also able to detect body heat from about 1 meter away.
These snakes also have a triangular head attached to a slender neck. Furthermore, the pupils of their eyes are vertical slits.
Pit vipers have hollow fangs connected to venom glands on each side of the roofs of their mouths. They use their fangs to inject venom into their prey. This venom immobilizes the prey, making it easier for the snake to consume. All pit vipers are born with multiple fangs and replace them every couple of months. Old fangs are shed one at a time. Consequently, a pit viper bite may only involve one fang.
Interestingly, these snakes have a sphincter on each venom gland. This allows them to control the flow of venom through the fangs. A snake may elect not to inject any venom with a bite. Scientists surmise that this is because it takes time for it to rebuild its venom store. Twenty to twenty-five percent of pit viper-to-human bites are dry bites. In other words, they are venomless. Source
Pit vipers primarily consume small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, small birds, and large insects. These snakes play an important role in maintaining balance in rodent populations.
Rattlesnakes
The first thing people think about with regard to Rattlesnakes is their tails. When they are disturbed, they vibrate their tails. This makes a buzzing or a rattling-type sound.
There’s always the potential danger of rattlesnakes striking without rattling. Sometimes, their rattles fall off. You must be aware of where you are placing your hands and feet in rattlesnake country. Be vigilant when stepping over logs or large rocks. There may be a snake resting just out of site.
When you’re moving through known rattlesnake habitat you should have your dog on a leash. If you have hunting dogs, they should be wearing snake armor.
It’s a good idea to carry a long stick. You can use it to tap the ground in front of you to warn any snakes of your approach. You can also use the stick to part any dense vegetation or tall grass in your path.
If you hear a rattling noise, do not move until you spot where it’s coming from. Otherwise, you may accidentally move into the snake, provoking it to strike you.
If you are going to be hiking in rattlesnake country it would be a good idea to wear snake boots or snake gaiters. This protects your lower legs from being bitten by a snake.
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake
| Scientific Name: | Crotalus oreganus |
| Description: | 39 inches (99cm)long. Dark brown, olive brown, yellow, gray, and sometimes black base color with dark blotches. |
| Habitat: | Pine-oak, cedar, ponderosa pine, and juniper woodlands. |
| Conservation Status: | Species of Least Concern in Washington and Oregon. |
The average Northern Pacific Rattlesnake is 39 inches (99cm)long. The longest on record is 64 inches (163cm). They come in a wide variety of colors. Their base color can range from dark brown, olive brown, pale yellow, dark gray, and sometimes black. This has a covering of dark blotches with lighter edges. The last two rings at the end of their tail are generally black. The belly is pale yellow with brown spots. There is a dark brown stripe extending from its eye through the angle of the jaw. The brown stripe is usually bordered by white stripes above and below it.
Where Do Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes Live?
Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes inhabit many of the drier regions of western North America. Their range extends from southwestern Canada to northern Mexico.
Washington
As stated above, they are the only rattlesnake species in Washington state. They are absent from western Washington and present in eastern Washington. More specifically, they live east of the Cascade Range. They inhabit the Cascade’s eastern slope foothills. They also inhabit the Columbia Plateau, the Columbia Basin, and the Okanogan regions. Visitors to the Okanogan Basin’s Lake Chelan sometimes run into Rattlesnakes.
You’ll also find them in the region surrounding the Blue Mountains. They are adapted to a wide variety of habitat types. Their habitat includes areas with pine-oak woodlands. They also inhabit areas of coniferous forests. These include cedar, ponderosa pine, and juniper woodlands.
In the spring and fall, they need to sun themselves more to regulate their body temperature. Look for them on south-facing rock ledges and rocky hillsides.
Oregon
They occupy oak habitats in southwestern Oregon. This is in the Klamath/Siskiyou Mountain region and the Rogue River/ Umpqua Valleys. They also occupy the mid-to-southern Willamette Valley.
Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes are an Oregon conservation strategy species in the Willamette Valley. In northeastern and central Oregon, they live in juniper and pine woodlands. Visitors to Lake Billy Chinook sometimes run into Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake Brumation
To survive through the cool winter months, snakes and other reptiles brumate. They are ectotherms, which means they cannot regulate their body temperature internally. Physiologically, ectotherms cannot hibernate. Yet, they go into a state of suspended animation called brumation. Brumation is a reptile’s version of hibernation.
Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes brumate in communal dens of 10 to 50 snakes. Their snakelets leave their mother when they are a couple of weeks old. But they will follow her scent trail back to their wintertime den.
These dens are generally located in rocky crevices on south-facing slopes. These areas receive more direct sunlight. In northerly latitudes, they may brumate for up to six months out of the year.
They will also bask on the surface for 3 to 4 weeks prior to and after brumation. This helps to regulate their body temperature. Source
Be vigilant when hiking south-facing talus slopes in the early spring. You have the potential to stumble into a large group of these dangerous snakes. When warmer weather arrives, they will disperse until early September. In the Autumn, it’s wise to avoid these south-facing slopes once again.
How Dangerous Are Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes?
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake venom is a mix of neurotoxins, hemotoxins, and myotoxins. Envenomation from one of these snakes may cause a multitude of symptoms. These include pain, swelling, fatigue, muscle weakness, body aches, and joint pain. In some cases, enlarged lymph nodes, anxiety, drowsiness, nausea, and diarrhea occur. Some of the systemic symptoms include neurological symptoms, internal hemorrhaging, and kidney failure. Source
Great Basin Rattlesnake
| Scientific Name: | Crotalus o. lutosus |
| Description: | 3 feet (.91 m) in length. Light gray to light brown body with dark blotches. |
| Habitat: | Juniper woodlands, desert scrub, sagebrush flats, and rocky outcrops. |
| Conservation Status: | Common within their range |
The Great Basin Rattlesnake is a subspecies of the Western Rattlesnake. They are predominantly native to the Great Basin. The Great Basin is the largest endorheic basin in North America. It takes in most of Nevada plus parts of Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, and California. Source
These snakes’ bodies are light grey or light brown. Their bodies are also covered with dark blotches. These blotches are dark brown to black with pale centers. These rattlesnakes rarely exceed 3 feet (.91 m) in length. However, the largest specimens grow to 4 feet (1.22 m).
Where Do Great Basin Rattlesnakes Live in Oregon?
This is an article on the venomous snakes of Washington and Oregon. However, out of the two states, Great Basin Rattlesnakes only exist in Oregon. Specifically, they inhabit southern Oregon and eastern Oregon.
Great Basin Rattlesnakes exist in a wide variety of habitats. These include juniper woodlands, desert scrub, sagebrush flats, and rocky outcrops. Their buff-tan coloring and small, oval blotches match the arid surroundings there.
What Do Great Basin Rattlesnakes Eat?
Young Great Basin Rattlesnakes feed primarily on lizards and small rodents. As they mature, though, these snakes undergo ontogenetic change. Their prey preference shifts to mice, woodrats, and chipmunks. Source
Great Basin Rattlesnake Brumation
Like Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes, Great Basin Rattlesnakes brumate through the cool winter months.
They enter communal dens with other rattlesnakes. These dens are usually on south-facing slopes. They utilize sheltered, dry areas such as rock crevices. Many of the snakes they winter with will be their family members.
How Dangerous Are Great Basin Rattlesnakes?
Great Basin rattlesnake venom is a potent mix of myotoxins and hemotoxins. Their bites may produce pain, edema, nausea, and vomiting. Furthermore, the hemotoxic component of their venom can cause internal bleeding. This may lead to multiple organ damage. Moreover, the myotoxic portion of their venom will produce necrosis of body tissue. Source
Rattlesnake Lookalikes
Gopher Snakes
Oregon and Washington are both home to the gopher snake. People often mistake Gopher snakes, which are also called bull snakes, for rattlesnakes. This is primarily because they are similarly marked. Gopher snakes are nonvenomous snakes. But when they’re agitated, they can do a pretty fair rattlesnake impression. They do this by coiling in a defensive posture and flattening out their heads. They even vibrate their tails sometimes. They don’t have a rattlesnake’s rattles, though.
Here’s a quote from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife website. “The easiest way to tell a gopher snake from a rattlesnake is to look at the tail. Gopher snake tails come to a fine pint and lack rattles. Rattlesnakes have an obvious rattle that comes to a blunt end.”
In Oregon, there are two distinct subspecies of gopher snakes. First is the Pacific Gopher Snake. It inhabits the Willamette Valley and the southwest region. The second is the Great Basin Gopher Snake, which lives east of the Cascade Mountains. The hills around Klamath Falls have Great Basin Gopher snakes. They also have Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes.
Washington also has both gopher snake subspecies. Again, the Cascade Range is the dividing boundary between where they live.
Night Snakes
The Night Snake is another rattlesnake look alike. These are smaller snakes that are usually less than 18 inches (46 cm) in length. They have vertical elliptical pupils and are similarly marked to Western rattlesnakes. They do not have a rattle, though. A night snake’s saliva is mildly venomous. However, they’re not harmful to humans unless they produce an allergic reaction.
Rattlesnake Predators
Rattlesnake Predators That Are Immune to Rattlesnake Venom
Although they are venomous, Western Rattlesnakes do have some predators.
- Two of these are the California Kingsnake and the Common Kingsnake. Both of these snakes, which kill by constriction, are somewhat immune to snake venom.
- Skunks also prey on rattlesnakes. Fortunately for them, they are also immune to snake venom.
- Badgers also eat rattlesnakes and have some immunity to rattlesnake venom.
- Feral hogs are also immune to snake venom and find rattle snakes to be tasty snacks.
Rattlesnake Predators That Are Not Immune to Rattlesnake Venom
The following animals prey on rattlesnakes on occasion but are not immune to their venom. They have to manage to kill the snake without being bitten.
- coyotes
- bobcats
- mountain lions
- raptors
Symptoms of Venomous Snake Bites
Some of the symptoms you may experience from a venomous snake bite include:
- Discoloration in the area of the bite.
- Swelling in the area of the bite.
- Loss of muscle coordination.
- Tingling sensation in the area of the bite.
- Feeling nauseous.
- Having an abnormally rapid pulse.
What Should You Do If A Venomous Snake Bites You?
If you or someone you are with has suffered a venomous snakebite, time is of the essence. This is because the sooner a victim receives anti-venom, the less likely the venom in their body is to cause harm. In other words, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.
Do not attempt to kill the snake for identification purposes. This gives the snake a chance to bite you again. Also, consider that severed snakeheads can still bite and envenomate. If you have a phone, take a picture of the offending reptile. Otherwise, get started on your way to the hospital.
First Aid for Snake Bite Victims
- Remain calm and limit your movements. Do not run. If you must hike back to a vehicle, do it calmly and deliberately. Put as little stress on your heart as possible.
- Keep the area of the snake bite below the heart level and never above the heart level. Keeping the bite below the heart level will reduce the venom’s flow. However, holding the bite above your heart level will increase the venom’s flow.
- Remove all constricting items such as bracelets, watches, or rings before swelling occurs.
- Remember that using a cold compress on a venomous snake bite is not advisable. The cold may cause the local blood vessels to constrict and spread the venom faster.
- You can wash the affected area like any other wound with soap and water.
- You may cover the bite area with a moist dressing to reduce the swelling.
- Get medical help as soon as possible. Call the hospital to tell them a venomous snake has bitten you. So they can have anti-venom ready to give you when you arrive.
- A person whom a venomous snake has bitten may go into shock. If this happens, lay them flat and cover them with a blanket.
Dressing for Snake Country
- High-top leather boots and long pants are both wise ideas.
- Also, wear loose-fitting denim. If there’s a gap before the snake’s fangs touch your skin, your chances of being envenomated are lower.
- In the absence of high-top leather boots, some people wear snake gaiters.
Also see:
Scorpions in Washington State – Krebs Creek
Wild Cats in Washington State – Krebs Creek
