>>2102823Southern AZ here and I love a tromp thru the desert up the hills flats and cactus.
Seen alot of rattlers. And they come out now or when winter is over. Now that it's in 100's they come out in evening and morning. During daytime they rest in shady areas like a tree, brush or a rocky place. Or in your yard under a pile of wood or behind your trashcan. Anyplace to get out the sun.
When walking be careful in grass or bushy areas you can't see bare ground. In evening on a trail they like to out catching the last warmth, they can look like a tree branch or a pile of poo.
If you are lucky they will suddenly start rattling. Don't move until you can tell where the rattle is coming from. Go away from it or around it if you have to. Rattlers are territorial so if you pass that area again just be careful you are on his little house area. I avoid killing them unless it comes around my house and it might bite a family member.
Funfact: they all migrate back to their spawning ground to mate. I've seen two hills with just shitloads of rattlers moving about or resting everywhere. Most times I might see a rattler about once every other year.
I always carry a stick to poke around brush and rocks I think look like a nice resting place for snakes.
