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We were hanging out in some friends' yard in Joshua Tree yesterday and one of said friends almost stepped on this young rattler that was sunning itself near the hot tub. Snake didn't seem too pleased with efforts to relocate him but finally slithered off in little a reptilian huff.
Much to our relief, this Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake is very much alive. We thought we had run over this fellow, as we drove by in Joshua Tree. You can imagine, I was terribly excited!
Having confirmed it was still alive, we ushered it off the road and back into the bushes. I'd have to say that this rattler is lucky. The roads are great sunbathing places because they're black and open, so rattlers can warm up really fast. Of course, this makes them common obstacles for cars, and apparently flattened roadside rattlers are fairly common.
Joshua Tree; Rock Climbing; Sun setting behind joshua trees at Joshua Tree National Park; CA; Sunset; Back lit Joshua trees; Dessert sunset; Landscape of Joshua Tree Park at sunset
Barker Dam, also known as the Big Horn Dam, is a water-storage facility located in Joshua Tree National Park in California. The dam was constructed by early cattlemen, including C.O. Barker in 1900. It was raised in 1949 by rancher William F. Keys. It is situated between Queen Valley and the Wonderland of Rocks near the Wall Street Mill. It is a gathering place for desert wildlife, including many species of birds and Desert Bighorn Sheep. Visitors can reach the dam via a short trail from a nearby parking lot and can see Native American petroglyphs a short distance to the west. There is also good bouldering on side trails near the dam.