Newborn found at base of Leavenworth crag

[brad]

Look at this little guy!

 

[lancegranite]

What cliff is this?

Looks like a baby king snake?

[brad]

I believe it is a Western Pacific Rattlesnake. This was at the power tower. I have seen no less than 5 snakes already this season in the tumwater. especially the last couple of weeks. I almost put my hand on an adult last thursday. Scared the shit out of me. That combined with two black bear encounters in two weeks has me feeling a little on edge lately, especially off trail.

[rocketparrotlet]

Careful of the baby rattlesnakes, they don't have venom dosage control and a bite is much more likely to be severe/lethal than an adult rattlesnake. (It sure is cute though!)

[DPS]

I recall from a zoology class in college that spring was a bad time to get bitten by a rattlesnake because their venom sacs are full after hibernating.

[max]

Careful of the baby rattlesnakes, they don't have venom dosage control and a bite is much more likely to be severe/lethal than an adult rattlesnake. (It sure is cute though!)

From Loma Linda University Medical Center website

Many people believe that a baby rattlesnake is more dangerous than an adult rattlesnake. However, a large rattlesnake is more likely to deliver much more venom than a baby rattlesnake. In the clinical experience at Loma Linda University Medical Center, large rattlesnakes cause more serious injuries than baby rattlesnakes.

 

http://lomalindahealth.org/medical-center/our-services/emergency/programs-and-divisions/venom-er/resources/when-snakes-strike.page

[beaconben]

Somebody on this site has to know snakes, please let us know. I do not think that is a rattlesnake.

[ZONK]

Not a Rattlesnake.

[RuMR]

definitely not a rattler...biggest give-away is the shape of the head...

[Off_White]

I'm going with gopher snake.

 

[RaisedByPikas]

Yeah it looks like the rattlesnakes look similar but have bigger cheek looking things and the mean looking eyebrows.

Snakes

 

[rocky_joe]

I think that is a gopher snake. It doesn't have the triangular shaped head that a rattler does nor the pit organ depression that all pit vipers have. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalinae

 

As for the baby debate, I recall learning in WFR that rattlesnakes are more likely use venom in a bite than older snakes, who will bite for defense without using venom. When adult snakes use venom the dose is higher, which is still inline with the previously posted article. So it would seem that you're more likely to be injected with venom by a young snake, but more likely to suffer venomous effects if an older snake uses their venom.

 

"Rattlesnakes are born with fully functioning fangs capable of injecting venom and can regulate the amount of venom they inject when biting. Generally they deliver a full dose of venom to their prey, but may deliver less venom or none at all when biting defensively. A frightened or injured snake may not exercise such control. Young snakes are also dangerous,[4] and should not be treated with any less caution than the adults."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattlesnake

[brad]

Although it was more exciting to think it was a rattlesnake i must agree on the gopher snake ID.

This one was NOT a gopher snake