gentetip

#Okmulgee #Pitviper #Fieldherping #Pygmyrattlesnake

This small venomous rattlesnake is identified by the orange or reddish stripe down the backbone coupled with black cross-bands. The general background color is gray.

The top of the head is distinctly patterned with an arrow shaped pattern. This marking helps to differentiate between baby Timber Rattlesnakes, which often inhabit the same areas and can look similar
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All of the pit vipers found in Oklahoma have heat-sensing pits. These occur between the eyes and nostrils, but are difficult to see in the species because they blend with the pattern of the snake.

The tail is tipped with a very small rattle that produces a sound reminiscent of a small insect buzzing. In this video you can actually hear the rattle amid the background noise. This species is also known as the Ground Rattler to many people.

This snake is fairly common in south central and eastern Oklahoma.

#Iphone #Selfiestick #Rattlesnakestrike

A prairie rattlesnake being filmed in a ditch by a lake in NW Oklahoma. Although I would like to do a good strike video at some point I sure don't want a snake to ever hit a camera or in this case a phone. I don't want the snake getting hurt in any way. As it turns out, Trav pulled his camera back at just the right time so his iPhone only got a few drops of venom and the snake was ok!