Originally Posted by big john

Most of the rattlers I see in Southern California look like this.

I did see one that was much darker, almost black. One day a hawk flew over me carrying a rattler about 3 feet long. I was riding in a local canyon and 2 rattlers were wrestling next to the road in what I assume was a mating ritual. A bunch of cars stopped and people got out to watch.

We have Red Racers on a bike path near here. I came around a turn and one was across the path in front of me. I was able to jump over him and I asked some walkers if I cleared the snake. Yep.