Rare Reptiles of Whitewater Preserve

Whitewater Preserve is home to a variety of species of reptile and amphibians. Amongst reptile enthusiasts this Canyon is the stuff of legends. Because of the frequent presence of water throughout the area, reptile populations can expand much quicker than in other areas resulting in a higher than usual density of our scaly friends. The Preserve is so much of a reptilian haven that it is also a stronghold for species that aren’t doing as well, population-wise. Here is a quick description of Whitewater’s Reptilian Species of Special Concern:

Red diamond rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber)

Of the species listed here, this is probably the one that you will encounter most on the trail system. This venomous rattlesnake is potentially very dangerous to people and pets but is normally a very passive snake, often choosing to retreat rather than stand its ground and rattle. This snake is often confused with the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) of the Lower Coachella Valley. The biggest difference between the two is their color, western diamondbacks are rarely the beautiful orange color like the red diamond rattlesnake! These snakes are threatened by a significant loss of habitat throughout their range.

The two-striped garter snake (Thamnophis hammondii)

Garter snakes (often called garden snakes) are water-loving snakes that you might see in the larger ponds on the Preserve or even swimming around the wading pond searching for a frog to eat. As a defense, garter snakes will bite and spray a foul smelling musk on their attacker as a deterrent. The two-striped garter snake, like the red diamond rattlesnake, is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation.

Blainville’s horned lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii)

This is the species of reptile that very few people get to see when visiting Whitewater Preserve. Horned lizards (famously known as horny toads) are a group of lizards that have seen population declines across the board due to over-collecting and habitat loss. These charming little creatures tend to stay very still when spotted by people, relying on their camouflage to stay undetected. This leads to the misconception that they are okay with being around people and results in the lizard being taken home. Removing these reptiles (among other wildlife) from their natural habitat without a license is both illegal, not to mention detrimental to the survival of the species. If you happen to spot one of these lizards on the preserve, please let a Wildlands ranger or naturalist know!