Viperidae
Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake
Crotalus ornatus
A closer look
A stout mountain rattlesnake recognized by its dark tail and eye stripe. It is most often associated with rocky canyons and wooded slopes and typically feeds on rodents and birds.
- Habitat
- Rocky canyons & wooded slopes
- On the menu
- Rodents and birds
- Behavior
- A sit-and-wait hunter that relies on camouflage, heat-sensing pits, and a rapid strike.
A suspected bite needs emergency medical care. Do not wait for symptoms or use this guide to judge severity.
Safety & bite guidance ↗Where it is listed
A sense of place.
Checklist presence only. A highlighted state is not a local range boundary. Territory tiles are schematic.
State & territory checklist
About continuous range data
A verified habitat-model layer is not available for this species in this release. Earlier broad sketches connected jurisdiction locations; they did not show measured occurrence or USGS habitat predictions.
Use USGS distribution resources ↗ for available modeled habitat data.
Names, sources & image evidence
Also known as: Black-tailed Rattlesnake
Taxonomy: provisional. Territory checklist entries may be provisional. Field descriptions include broad group-level natural-history summaries.
Research Grade iNaturalist observation 164262908 has exact taxon Crotalus ornatus
Conservation & local rules
Collection, possession, relocation, and protection rules vary by state and territory. Check the relevant wildlife agency before taking action. Leave wild snakes where they are.