gentetip

The Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge is over 8,000 acres located in southwest Oklahoma. It is home to over 200 species of birds, more than 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 50 species of mammals, and at least 36 species of fish exist.

Many visitors come to hike the rocky trails and watch wildlife. Wild turkey, elk, bison, prairie dogs and river otters have all been reintroduced here with success! While we didn’t see all of these animals burrowing owls and Texas longhorn cattle can also be seen here.

The main goal of this trip besides just being out in nature is to observe and photograph rattlesnakes! My favorite subject! We were hoping to see a Western Massasauga and a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake but only were able to find the Diamondback. It is rumored that Prairie Rattlesnakes live here as well but I am not sure of any confirmed sightings. Are you? Leave a comment down below if you have knowledge of their presence in the Wichita Mountains!

We went on a holiday weekend and will never do that again but we were lucky enough to film a colony of prairie dogs and a Diamondback rattlesnake! Also we got some footage of the bison that were there. I hope you enjoy this video!

This Western Diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) was trying to get to some shelter as a storm was about to take place. This was shot by Fairview, Oklahoma in May of 2019. Like most rattlesnakes, if given a wide distance and you do not get to close to them, they will try to flee from you.

I used a zoom lens to get some of the up close shots and would never recommend you get close to any venomous snake species. That includes to kill it, you are safer by calling someone with experience for relocation. You can visit many snake groups on Facebook to find out what you can also do to make your property less attractive to snakes.

Young copperhead snakes use a technique called caudal luring to attract prey items. They possess a brightly colored tip on their tail which they can wiggle around to attract prey items. Copperheads and Cottonmouths both have this feature as juveniles. While Copperheads are fairly common throughout most of their range they are often killed because they do possess a mild venom that is medically significant to human beings and pet animals. Sadly dozens of these snakes are killed because of their potential danger to people and many snakes are killed because they are mistaken for copperheads such as rat snakes and corn snakes. Copperhead snakes usually will freeze when they are detected and prefer not to have a confrontation with anything bigger than themselves. Sadly sometimes bites to people do happen and unfortunately it is the snake that pays the ultimate price. I hope you enjoy this video and see a fascinating creature when you view this baby animal!

#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.

#hognose #fieldherping #snakelahoma

I came across an Eastern Hognose snake and while I was setting up my camera, he started playing dead. This was the first time I have ever seen one do this and it was totally unprovoked. He was crawling across a trail and I got a few pictures of him before he did this.

Ring-necked Snakes (Diadophis punctatus) is a harmless species of colubrid snake found throughout much of the United States, central Mexico, and southeastern Canada. Ring-necked snakes are reclusive, nocturnal snakes, so are rarely seen during the day time unless they are flipped.

They are slightly venomous, but their nonaggressive nature and small, rear-facing fangs pose no threat to humans who wish to handle them. They are best known for their unique defense posture of curling up their tails, exposing their bright red-orange posterior, ventral surface when threatened.

Ring-necked snakes eat earthworms, salamanders and other snakes when available!

#Sistrurus #Pygmy #Snakelahoma

Small Western Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius streckeri) using his rattle. It was inaudible so we just included some music. This specimen was only about 7 inches long.
Creek County, OK.

#rattlesnake #oksnakes #crotalusatrox

The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake feeds on small mammals such as prairie dogs, rabbits, gophers, chipmunks, ground squirrels, mice and rats, usually they hunt at night. The snake will lay along a trail and ambush a prey item or attack them in their burrows, sometimes striking and swallowing an animal which is bigger than the snake itself. Given the opportunity, the snake will also eat birds. After feeding, the snake can go several weeks before feeding again.

Brownsnake at Haikey Creek Park in Snakelahoma! Also known as a DeKay's snake, these little snakes are found throughout eastern Oklahoma and they are fascinating creatures to watch! This was a good diversion from Broken Arrow's annual Rooster Days Festival!

#Crotalushorridus #Timber #Snakelahoma #fieldherping


Cover photo: Tyler Albertson

The Timber Rattlesnake is highly venomous but seldom seen and very reclusive. Timber rattlesnakes are slow to defend themselves and rely on their ability to blend into their surroundings to avoid detection. They seek to escape rather than risk danger and will remain silent if possible and stay hidden.

Despite their large size and reputation, they are difficult to provoke into striking. Often called America's snake, the Timber Rattlesnake is thought to be the serpent viewed on the Gadsden Flag and Benjamin Franklin had written about the animal too.