Oregon is known for its amazing sights and wildlife populations. Animals living in this northwest state include many species of mammals, birds, and reptiles, including snakes. There are at least 15 different species of snakes living in Oregon, but only two—which are actually two subspecies of the western rattlesnake—are venomous: the Great Basin rattlesnake and the Northern Pacific rattlesnake.
If you come across a snake in Oregon, you can quickly tell it’s a rattlesnake if it has a triangular-shaped head, thin vertical pupils, and, of course, a rattle at the end of its tail. Although rattlesnakes are venomous, they are non-aggressive and do not attack unless provoked. These snakes are essential to the ecosystems in Oregon, as they help to keep rodent populations in check. Let’s look at Oregon’s two resident rattlesnakes.
1. Great Basin Rattlesnake
The Great Basin rattlesnake is a subspecies of the western rattlesnake, although some would argue there are enough differences between the two that the Great Basin rattlesnake should be recognized as its own species.
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The Great Basin rattlesnake earned its moniker because this subspecies of Crotalus oreganus (western rattlesnake) can be found in the U.S.’s largest contiguous endorheic watershed, the Great Basin. This area covers most of Nevada, the western half of Utah, and parts of California, Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming. In Oregon, that means the northern edge of the Great Basin covers the southeastern corner of the state. According to the National Park Service, the only venomous reptile in the Great Basin Desert is the Great Basin rattlesnake. Like other rattlesnake species, Great Basins are not inclined to bite unless provoked.
Besides geography, the first and easiest way to quickly identify this snake species is by the rattle on the end of its tail, following by this species’ thick, stocky bodies, which are muddy in color, typically buff, pale gray, pale brown, olive brown, or yellowish brown with 32-49 darker oval blotches on their backs. Its species name, Crotalus lutosus, means muddy. These snakes tend to grow to be 30-36 inches in length.
Although they do live up to 11,000 feet in elevation, Great Basin rattlesnakes are most commonly found below 8,000 feet in the varied habitats of the Great Basin. What all these habitats have in common is rock. During the winter, this snake species hibernates in dens located on southern exposed rock outcroppings, emerging once the sun’s warmth returns in May. Their diet consists of small mammals such as mice, rats, ground squirrels, and gophers, as well as birds and lizards. Gravid (pregnant) females typically give birth in early fall (September) to 5-8 live baby rattlesnakes. By the end of the month, Great Basin rattlesnakes return to their dens to wait out the winter’s cold temperatures underground.
2. Northern Pacific Rattlesnake
The longest Northern Pacific Rattlesnake on record was 64 inches long.
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| Northern Pacific Rattlesnake | |
|---|---|
| Range | Western & Central Northeastern Oregon |
| Length | 39 inches |
The Northern Pacific Rattlesnake lives in western and central northeastern Oregon. On average these snakes grow up to 39 inches long and are brown, gray, or greenish-brown. Patterned along their backs are large, square-shaped blotches. Younger snakes have lighter colors and more distinct patterns that get darker and less clear as they age. Northern Pacific rattlesnakes are passive and rarely aggressive. These snakes may sun themselves on rocks during the day, but most of the time will stay hidden in rocky crevices. Their venom is a hemotoxic-neurotoxic mix that is quite potent.
