Seeking the Slimy and Scaly?
Being a cold and high altitude park, Bryce Canyon is not the best habitat for reptiles and amphibians. However, 11 species of reptiles and four species of amphibians can be found at Bryce.
Because we are surrounded by deserts, people often ask "Are any of them poisonous?" We rangers like to respond with a joke "I don't know, I've never tried eating any of them!" Then we add, "But we do have a venomous reptile to watch out for, the Great Basin Rattlesnake."
Things that make you sick when you eat them are poisonous. Things that make you sick when they bite or sting you are venomous. In this section of our website, you can learn more about reptiles and amphibians of Bryce Canyon.
Rattlesnake crawling near the Fairyland Loop Trail. Watch your step.
Photographed by Jim McNitt 2014.
Great Basin Rattlesnake
NPS Photo
Great Basin Rattlesnake
Scientific Name: Crotalus viridis lutosus Size (length) English & Metric: 16-64" (40.6-162.6cm) Habitat: Rocky outcrops, talus slopes, stony canyons, prairie dog towns; below 11,000' Diet: Small mammals, birds, lizards, snakes, and amphibians Predators: Hawks and raptors
General Biology
The Great Basin Rattlesnake is light brown or gray with a tapering row of brownish blotches down the midline of the back. Scales are large and keeled (not flat and smooth) in 25-27 rows. Their range is from southeast Oregon, southern Idaho, and northeast California, to Nevada, western Utah, and northwest Arizona. It is a subspecies of the Western Rattlesnake.
The Great Basin Gopher Snake, Pituophis melanoleucus, is sometimes mistaken for a rattlesnake, too often motivating irrational fear or unnecessary violence from humans. The two species do have somewhat similar markings but careful observation quickly reveals several obvious differences. The body of a rattlesnake is thicker with flat sloping sides, whereas the gopher snake's body is perfectly round, long, and skinny. Rattlesnakes are also identified by their large triangular heads; gopher snakes' heads are small and bullet-shaped. Most notably, gopher snakes lack the rattle at the end of their tails. Interestingly, they have learned to mimic rattlesnakes by twitching their tails when alarmed. If their tail happens to be resting on some dry leaves, the noise of their tail-twitching can mimic the "buzz"of a rattlesnake's rattle. While this behavior fools a Coyote or fox into leaving the gopher snake alone, it often encourages misguided or malevolent humans to kill it.
Behavior
Rattlesnakes are often referred to as poisonous snakes. This description is incorrect as the meat from a rattlesnake is not only edible, it is also considered very tasty, having a flavor similar to (yep, you guessed it!) chicken. Rattlesnakes are venomous. The difference is in the definitions of the two words. Poisonous means unsafe to eat. Venomous means having the potential to inject poison into you. It's an important distinction as humans do far more "biting" of rattlesnakes than they do of us.
Rattlesnakes hibernate through the winter in communal burrows. For the Great Basin Rattlesnakes, mating occurs between March and May and sometimes in the fall. Young are live-born, usually between August and October in litter sizes of 4 - 21 young. The record lifespan of a Great Basin Rattlesnake is 19 ½ years.
Rattlesnakes are "sit and wait" predators. Instead of hunting, they prefer to hide and let prey come to them. Rattlesnakes sense their surrounding world in several ways. With forward facing eyes, their vision is more binocular than that of most snakes. This gives them excellent aim and the ability to precisely judge distances when striking. They also can "smell" by collecting molecules on their forked tongues, then transferring them to a special receptor on the roof of their mouth called the Jacobson's Organ. (A snake's nostrils serve no olfactory function whatsoever; they are used only for respiration.)
Rattlesnakes are also able to sense vibrations through the ground created by the movement of other animals. Even a small mouse tip-toeing through soft sand does not go undetected by a rattlesnake. The rattlesnake's most unusual method of detection is its' "infrared night vision." Special organs called Loreal Pits on the snake's face allow it to detect the slightest change in temperature. This allows it to locate and precisely strike the warm body of a living mouse that mistakenly thought it was concealed by total darkness. After delivering the venomous bite, the snake swallows the rodent victim whole.
Rattlesnakes respond to danger in predictable ways. First the snake will try to move out of the way of whatever threat is approaching. If it can't escape, it will try to scare the potential predator away by shaking its tail, creating the diagnostic buzzing sound or rattle. If this does not work, the snake will then coil and prepare to strike. Some slow motion videos show the whole snake leaping off the ground, but their effective striking distance is usually less than half their overall body length. When the snake lunges, it opens its jaws wide, pulling the normally retracted fangs forward. After biting, the lower jaw quickly closes, smoothly prying the fangs out of the wound so as not to break them. Broken fangs will re-grow.
Conservation
Snakes provoke instinctual fear and/or loathing in humans. All snakes including rattlesnakes are protected animals in National Parks; therefore it is illegal to harass or harm them. In the desert southwest, snakes are a key group of species that control rodent populations. It has been documented that high populations of White-footed Deer Mice lead to deadly Hanta Virus outbreaks. If you are anti-snake, consider the following reality: While there is no known cure for Hanta Virus, rattlesnake bites are almost never fatal when proper medical treatment is administered. Nationwide, almost half of all rattlesnake bites occur when people are trying to kill, capture, or otherwise harm the snakes. Your safest action is to leave rattlesnakes alone and they will leave you alone.
You can greatly reduce your chance of encountering a rattlesnake by staying on trails. Areas of rocky slopes or lowlands of tall sagebrush should be avoided as they offer shade and cover for snakes and can make them hard to spot. If you happen upon a rattlesnake, the smartest thing to do is give the animal a wide berth. If you happen to find one sunning on the trail in front of you, step off the trail and walk around.
Rattlesnake bites are seldom fatal. Nevertheless, professional medical care should be sought out as soon as possible. Proper first aid treatment is debated. Contact the Ranger staff or dial 911 if you need assistance. What is widely agreed upon is that for absolutely no reason should the wound be opened with a knife or probed by any other instrument.
The victim should remain as calm as possible and avoid physical exertion as panic and exercise will only cause the venom to move through the body more quickly. Contrary to popular belief, rattlesnake venom does not "travel through the blood straight to the heart." Instead, rattlesnake venom causes a breakdown of the capillary walls creating internal bleeding. More often, it is the loss of blood from the system (usually taking several hours or days) that may cause heart failure and/or pulmonary edema. This means that tourniquets are not only unnecessary, but that they will also do more harm than good by increasing blood pressure which increases internal bleeding.
Statistically, only one 1 in 500 people die from rattlesnake bites and the vast majority of these deaths occur when people refuse medical treatment. In fact, only 30%-40% of bites are accompanied with a venom injection. Rattlesnakes use venom to kill prey (small creatures like mice and other rodents). They prefer not to waste precious venom when delivering a defensive bite. Remember that a biting snake is responding defensively to your actions. Protect them and yourself by leaving rattlesnakes alone.
When and where to see at Bryce
Seldom encountered within park boundaries except during especially hot and dry summers. Cold nighttime temperatures keep them out of higher elevations. Sightings are most often reported from the Under-the-Rim Trail, Riggs Springs Loop, and the Fairyland Loop.
Further Reading
Behler, John L. and F. Wayne King. 1979. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, pp. 682, 694-695.
Stebbins, Robert C., Peterson Field Guides: Western Reptiles and Amphibians, 1985: Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, p. 231-232.
Williams, David. 2000 A Naturalist's Guide to Canyon Country. Falcon Publishing, Inc., Helena, Montana. P155
Great Basin Gopher Snake
Andrew DuBois
Great Basin Gopher Snake
Side-Blotched Lizard
D. Kaposi
Side-blotched Lizard
Scientific Name: Uta stansburiana Size (length) English & Metric: 4-6 3/8" (10.0-16.2 cm) Habitat: Rocky, sandy, dry areas with some vegetation; Under 9000' Diet: Insects, scorpions, and spiders Predators: Other lizards, birds
General Biology
This lizard is small and brown with dark blotches on the chest behind the forelegs. There may be blotches, spots, speckles, or stripes on the back. There are small scales on the back, external ear openings, and a skin fold across the throat. This species is similar to another common Bryce Canyon lizard, the Western Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis, which is bigger, usually darker in color, and has spiny scales. The Side-blotched Lizard ranges from central Washington through southern California and western Texas and is one of the most prevalent lizards in the dry and semiarid West.
Behavior
The Side-blotched Lizard is mainly terrestrial but sometimes basks in the sun by climbing up on rocks, dead logs or standing snags. They quickly warm in the sun and then proceed to hunt and feed. Because other lizards and birds are a threat to them, they stay close to their burrows and crevices. Side-blotched Lizards are one of the few lizard species that are also active in the winter. Being so small, it's easy for them to warm up quickly, allowing them to be active on sunny winter days. Female Side-blotched lizards lay up to 3 clutches of eggs (up to 12 each) between March and August.
Conservation
The side-blotched lizard has high mortality and reproductive capability. As little as 10% survive their first year of life. However, because so many are born each year, the species population is very stable. Their chief ecological contribution is their voracious appetite for insects.
When and where to see at Bryce
Side-blotched Lizards are most active in the spring, summer, and fall. This species is common throughout the park at elevations below 9,000 ft. They usually go unnoticed as just another little lizard. They are most common below the rim on dry slopes with sparse vegetation.
Further Reading
Behler, John L., 1988: National Audubon Society Pocket Guide: Familiar Reptiles & Amphibians of North America, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, pg. 140.
Behler, John L. and F. Wayne King, 1979: National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, pg. 537.
Stebbins, Robert C., 1985: Peterson Field Guides: Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, pg. 135.
Scientific Name: Masticophis taeniatus Size (length) English & Metric: 40-72" (101.6-182.9 cm) Habitat: Grassland, arid flatland, rugged mountains; sea level to 9400' Diet: Lizards, small mammals, small snakes Predators: Hawks
General Biology
The Striped Whipsnake is long and slender, with color ranging among gray, bluish-green, olive, reddish-brown, and black. There are two or more light-colored lengthwise stripes on each side, the large head scales are edged in white, and scales are smooth in 15 rows. The species ranges from Washington to Great Basin to New Mexico and parts of west Texas. Whipsnakes get their name from their long and slender bodies and their high speed movement. Put simply, they are whip-like.
Behavior
The Striped Whipsnake courts in early spring and may nest in old rodent burrows. Three to 12 eggs are laid between June and July and hatch in August. They are 14-17" long at birth; males mature in one to two years and females in three. Whipsnakes are unusual in that they travel across the ground with their heads held high to get a better view of their surroundings. This species can vanish into burrows and rocks when surprised and is also known to escape predators by climbing trees. It hunts during the day and can climb trees to search for birds. Whipsnakes are swift and powerful predators capable of killing large lizards and even small rattlesnakes.
Conservation
Throughout their range, the main threats to these snakes are loss of natural habitat to expanding agriculture, and being hit by cars. Like all animals at Bryce Canyon National Park, Striped Whipsnakes are protected. Please watch for them as you drive our roads.
When and where to see at Bryce
Striped Whipsnakes are occasionally seen during summer days. Although not particularly common, they can be found in almost any habitat within Bryce Canyon.
Further Reading
Behler, John L. and F. Wayne King, 1979: National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, pg. 631.
Moon, Brad, "Reptiles of Washington," 2000: The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle.
Scientific Name: Ambystoma tigrinum Size (length) English & Metric: 6-13 3/8" (15.2-40 cm) Habitat: Varied habitats include meadows, forests, shady canyons, and springs Diet: Earthworms, large insects, small mice, amphibians Predators: Birds, snakes, ring-tailed cats, and foxes
General Biology
This is the world's largest salamander that lives on land. It has a broad head, small eyes, and variable colors and patterns which could include yellow or tan spots, stripes, or blotches on an olive, black, or brown body. There are tubercles on the soles of the feet and 11 to 14 costal grooves. Maturing salamanders in this species may retain their gills and remain aquatic and still reach sexual maturity. The species ranges from southern Canada to Florida and Mexico, but is not in New England, the Appalachians, or the Far West. Tiger Salamanders are the only type of salamander you will see at Bryce Canyon.
Behavior
Tiger salamanders spend most of their time hidden and emerge and travel at night to avoid predators. Breeding is prompted by rain and takes place in pools, fishless ponds, stream backwaters, and thawed lakes. Pairs of adults circle and nudge each other on the water bottom. The female eventually follows the male and picks up his spermatophore once he deposits it. The eggs are laid from March to June in higher elevations in the North, and from July to August in the Southwest, about two or three days after courting. The eggs adhere to underwater debris, and larvae hatch at 9/16" long, after three to five weeks, and then transform between June and August at around 4". Adults live up to 25 years.
Conservation
The larvae of tiger salamanders are frequently collected and sold as fishing bait, resulting in populations outside the natural range. This sale is sometimes restricted or regulated owing to possible disruption of native populations and confusion of laboratory data. Because of our semiarid climate here at Bryce Canyon, the Tiger Salamander's welfare is dependent mainly on the amount of annual rainfall.
When and where to find at Bryce
Tiger Salamanders are very rare within the park, but have been found in Swamp Canyon and in springs throughout the backcountry. Your best chance of seeing one is after a strong rain and even then, usually only at night or twilight hours.
Further Reading
Behler, John L. and F. Wayne King, 1979: National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, pg. 298.
Tyning, Thomas F., 1990: Stokes Nature Guides: A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles, Little, Brown & Company (Canada) Limited, Boston, pg. 133-139.
Last updated: September 8, 2024
Park footer
Contact Info
Mailing Address:
P.O Box 640201
Bryce,
UT
84764
Phone:
435 834-5322
Phones are answered and messages returned as soon as possible as staffing allows.
