Coiled and Ready
by Judy Kennedy
Title
Coiled and Ready
Artist
Judy Kennedy
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
Recently (June 29, 2019), I had the pleasure of capturing a Mojave Rattlesnake on my property and then releasing it back into the wild. This is not an irregular event for me, so I always take advantage of the situation and get some video footage and photographs out of it for artistic and educational purposes. I love these snakes and the mojave (pronounced mohavee with the accent on the “ha”) is probably my favorite rattler because its markings are so distinct and its personality is a bit feisty. Considered one of the most dangerous vipers in the United States, its venom is neurotoxic - meaning that if you’re unlucky enough to get in its way and suffer the consequences, the symptoms include paralysis, difficulty breathing, and even death. So stay out of their way! They were here first, and will only bite you in self-defense. Now, as you can see by these pictures, they are masters of camouflage so it’s easy not to see them - that’s part of their defense. Most of the time, they’ll feel your vibration and give off a warning rattle before you get too close. But if they’re hiding under some brush and haven’t warmed up for the day, that might not happen. You could get struck if you step on them, so it’s really, really important to watch where you’re going if you’re hiking in the desert. Otherwise, if you’re lucky enough to see them from a safe distance, then enjoy their beauty and grace. They keep rodent populations down and are equally vital for the health of the ecosystem. Long live the rattlesnake!
Uploaded
July 5th, 2019
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