Snakes of California
California Department of Fish and Wildlife: “Rattlesnakes are California’s only venomous snakes that can be harmful to humans.” No copperheads, no cottonmouths, no coral snakes — just seven rattlers.
Venomous Snakes of California
CDFW names seven. UC IPM says nine, splitting two western rattlesnake populations into full species. Neither publishes per-species lengths, so this page does not print any.
Rattlesnakes
The seven CDFW names. Per-species lengths are not published by CDFW or UC IPM; the only figure either gives is that some species reach 6 ft.
Western rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus
- Size
- Not stated
- Range
- The most widespread rattler in California — statewide, sea level to 7,000 ft
Sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes
- Size
- The smallest rattlesnake in California
- Range
- Desert areas, below sea level up to 6,000 ft
Speckled rattlesnake
UC IPM: Southwestern speckled rattlesnake
Crotalus mitchellii
- Size
- Not stated
- Range
- Desert areas — Colorado, Mojave and Sonoran deserts
Red diamond rattlesnake
Crotalus ruber
- Size
- Not stated
- Range
- Southwestern California, south of Los Angeles
Mohave rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus
- Size
- Not stated
- Range
- Desert and foothills of southeastern California
Panamint rattlesnake
Crotalus stephensi
- Size
- Not stated
- Range
- Inland desert, northerly across Southern California
Western diamond-backed rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
- Size
- Not stated
- Range
- Rare in California — far southeastern desert only
The count depends on taxonomy. CDFW says seven rattlesnake species; UC IPM says nine, counting the Southern Pacific and Great Basin rattlesnakes separately rather than folding them into the western rattlesnake; the state health department says six. CDFW’s own document concedes “taxonomy fluctuates”. Same animals either way.
What to Do About a Bite
Every step below is one that CDC NIOSH, the California agencies and poison control all agree on. Snakebite is a medical emergency; nothing here replaces calling for help.
Do
- Call 911, or Poison Help on 1-800-222-1222.
- Get away from the snake. Do not try to catch or kill it.
- Stay calm and still, and take off rings, watches and anything tight.
- Wash the bite and cover it with a clean dry dressing.
- Get to hospital. Call ahead so antivenom is ready.
Do not
- Do not cut the wound or try to suck out venom.
- Do not apply a tourniquet or anything that restricts blood flow.
- Do not pack it in ice or immerse it in cold water.
- Do not use electric shock, alcohol, or painkillers you were not told to take.
On limb position: agencies disagree. Some say keep the bite below heart level, CDC NIOSH says a neutral position. We are not going to arbitrate medical guidance, so the step is left out here — follow whatever the emergency operator tells you.
~1,000
rattlesnake bites reported a year in the US (UC IPM)
fewer than 4
US deaths from them in a given year (UC IPM)
1-800-222-1222
California Poison Control System
California Poison Control says it takes “hundreds of rattlesnake exposure calls every year” but publishes no California bite or death count.
What to wear: CDFW: “Wear sturdy boots and loose-fitting long pants. DO NOT wear sandals or flip-flops in brushy areas.” UC IPM: “always wear hiking boots.”
Full detail on our snake bite first aid page, and snake gaiters for California for the lower-leg cover those agencies keep recommending.
Where this came from
Species names, sizes, ranges and bite figures are taken from the agencies below. Where they disagree with each other, this page says so rather than picking the number that reads best.