# ID this snake (southern Washington) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 28, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-snake-southern-washington/986253 "2023-06-28T18:37:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-snake-southern-washington/986253/1 "2023-06-28T18:37:20Z")
We spotted this snake on a hike in Washington in the Columbia Gorge. I think it’s either a western rattlesnake or a [nightsnake](https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology/herpetology/amphibians-reptiles-washington/desert-nightsnake). I’m leaning toward nightsnake because of the dark patches behind its eyes, and because everyone always thinks a snake is a rattlesnake and they usually aren’t. Unfortunately, the snake stay coiled up so I couldn’t get a good view of its head or tail. [![](https://i.imgur.com/agzPSZj.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/agzPSZj.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-snake-southern-washington/986253/2 "2023-06-28T19:00:00Z")
Looks like a western diamondback rattler to me. Judging by the markings, the night snake appears more spotted. The one in your picture has a more clear diamond marking. I recently discovered the app [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/) - you can upload photos of plants, animals, fungus, or whatever and it will tell you what it is, and add it to science surveys and discussions with others. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-snake-southern-washington/986253/3 "2023-06-28T20:13:23Z")
Thanks, **snowthx** , good call. I posted it to a Snake Identification facebook group and they identified it as a Northern Pacific rattlesnake (crotalus oreganus). Sometimes it really is zebras! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-snake-southern-washington/986253/4 "2023-06-29T10:53:53Z")
Definitely a rattlesnake. Keep back! Looks well fed. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-snake-southern-washington/986253/5 "2023-07-07T16:00:11Z")
If you look closely there are pits in front and below the eyes. A dead give away if the snake is in Oregon…rattlesnake! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-snake-southern-washington/986253/6 "2023-07-07T16:23:47Z")
Hard to tell from the photo, but the eyes look cloudy, which means it is ready to molt. They are also really, really crabby when partially blind and molting, so you don’t want to piss it off… ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2023, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-snake-southern-washington/986253/7 "2023-07-07T16:30:37Z")
This one never moved, despite someone walking a few feet away before we noticed it. Even the crabby snakes are still polite around here.