Did you see their rattles? Is their head diamond shaped? I didn't know they had sub species, I just know they are poisonous. I think it's strange that they are hanging around a house with people in it.

We had a nest of rattlesnakes just a few yards from our front door- they were staying nice and warm in the pile of wood chips left behind when we took a tree down. My husband decided to shovel some of the chips around a tree and was quite surprised to find baby rattlers in his shovel.

Usually if we disturb one they will just slither away. None of ones we've come in contact with have been aggressive.

oh stargazzer! I am well versed on rattlesnakes- they are very common here. They looked like Prairie, but the one was very light gray. In this area there are western diamondbacks, prairie, mojave- they don't care where they are. They hunt for mice, frogs, toads, grasshoppers, most anything small, especially at night. The light brown one had tannish/orange rattles. They gray one had light tan/grayish rattles. I really didn't look real hard at the pattern on the back- I just wanted to get them into a bag(s) right away because they can still inflict a bite if a dog sniffed it. (yep- the head has the venom sacs, which can release if the fangs press on something- like a nosey dog/cat/kid. They are gross to watch, as they still 'squirm' after they are killed for several minutes to an hour or so. It's head was chopped off, and it was squirming in the bag like crazy 1/2 hour later!
They were probably a prairie, as they weren't diamond, and a timber is dark.

Sometimes just after they shed they could be a lighter color. We had the Mojave green, timber (dark), green, red and diamond back. The red ones were in the Red Rock Cny in CA and not as aggressive. The Mojave green have a different venom as they are a pit viper. To my knowledge the only place they are located is in the Antelope Valley in CA near Los Angeles. The first were located on Edwards AFB and are very aggressive. Oh yes, the sidewinders will chase anything and will bury themselves in the sand with just their eyes open, That is why I always walked in full sun in the dessert. I usually check to see if I can see the diamond shape head for a poisonous snake, and yes, I know not all snakes have this feature. That is why we kept a shotgun available. Yes the venom is still dangerous after the head is removed and dried up. A baby is worst because it will release the full venom while an adult will hold back some. The timber rattlers are more shy, but watch the birds. Blue jays will tell you if there is a snake around. They get real fussy and will dive bomb them.

When my son was alive and lived in the high desert north of LA, he would know when a rattler was in the yard from the different bark of his dogs. Brian then would get his reachy-thing, pick the snake up and put it in a cooler he kept on his 40wheeler and release it in the desert.
I'm sure you did what you thought you had to do about the snakes in your yard, but I think it is unfortunate to label those who feel differently about animals and nature...Tree huggers. JMO Dottie

but I think it is unfortunate to label those who feel differently about animals and nature...Tree huggers. JMO Dottie

I totally agree!! It sounds like your son was a really good man, I am sorry for your loss.

When I was a small child, to young to pick much cotton, my dad had me pick in front of him and he picked what I missed. Someone near by killed a rattle snake and warned everyone they travel in pairs. I was probably around 8 years old and terrified. As I got older I realize, I was in no danger. LOL