Wild Tracks

On behalf of the world's wild species

Tag Archives: western rattlesnake

Snake Ahoy

When people think of prairie rattlesnakes, they generally think of sand, cactus and hot dusty rocks. Here’s an alternate view!

These pictures were taken in southern Alberta, just north of Dinosaur Provincial Park, and yes the park has a healthy rattlesnake population.  Whether this big guy was too hot, or just trying to get to the other side, he tackled the Red Deer River with ease.

Diamond-backed rattlesnake

Western diamond-backed rattlesnake

Into the water we go

Into the water

And away we go

And away we go

All snakes can swim. They use the water’s surface tension to glide and can lift 1/4 to 1/3 of their body length off of the water surface. But you don’t generally think of snakes in the hot, arid prairies taking a dip!