Pygmy Rattlesnake

This is not a great, or maybe even good, photograph. The background is cluttered, and you can barely see the subject. In the middle of the photography, just to center right, the grayish snake with black splotches can be seen. The snake blends in well with the fallen branches and browned leaves.

That is the point of the photograph.

When hiking we always give a warning that in a natural area here in west central Florida, venomous snakes make their home. We have in the past come upon these snakes on trails, not moving but watching us. Humans don’t concern them as much as they concern other types of snakes, who usually move away fast when they sense us.

I almost didn’t take this shot, which with a Canon 85mm prime (no zoom) and the distance of the snake I knew would make a cluttered shot. Then I switched from photographer to naturalist mode and realized this illustrates a good example of a pygmy rattlesnake for those who never saw one, and also shows just how difficult they can be to find in their native surroundings.