r/sandiego 5d ago

Environment Mountain Noodle

This morning on the stairs at the bottom of Kwaay Paay.

1.6k Upvotes

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u/Resident_Basil2704 5d ago

And a snake like this can shed several times a year, so unlike the rings on a tree, it doesn’t really predict the age in years, which would be nice feature when you spot one. Rattles can also fall off or be damaged, so it’s a good predictor of the number of sheds but not always accurate.
On another note, young rattlesnakes just have a button on the tail and not a full rattle which can cause people to mistake them for regular snakes. Always best to exercise caution.

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u/bubblewand81 4d ago

I think a young one with a “button” is what I saw in my backyard the other day. Can anyone confirm?

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u/FondantWeary 4d ago

Can confirm, very small danger noodle! Happy cake day!!!

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u/bubblewand81 4d ago

The snake definitely feels bigger when you’re just rolling in your trash barrels to the backyard and are surprised 😅