Southern Pacific Rattlesnake

Crotalus oreganus helleri

Heavy body, triangular head. Brown, tan or black background with darker blotches along the back. Juveniles have a higher contrast pattern.
Found in most habitats in the region, including urban. Favors chapparal, dense vegetation, rock piles, and artificial cover. Active year round, most active March - October. A bite from this venomous snake is serious, and may cause long term damage, but with medical treatment is very unlikely to be fatal. There are around 250 reported snake bites (from any snake species) in california each year, with only 6 reported snake bite fatalities ever recorded in the state.