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Yellowstone National Park Bear walking on horizon as sun sets.
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Yellowstone National Park
Prairie Rattlesnake
A coiled prairie rattlesnake
Scientific name: Crotalis viridis viridis

Identification
  • More than 48 inches in length.
  • Greenish-gray to olive green, greenish-brown, light brown, or yellowish with dark brown splotches down its back that are bordered in white.
Habitat
  • Only dangerously venomous snake in the park.
  • Lives in the lower Yellowstone River areas of the park, including Reese Creek, Stephens Creek, and Rattlesnake Butte, where the habitat is drier and warmer than elsewhere in the park.
Behavior
  • Usually defensive rather than aggressive.
  • Only two snake bites are known during the history of the park.

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Fishing Bridge.

Did You Know?
You cannot fish from Fishing Bridge. Until 1973 this was a very popular fishing location since the bridge crossed the Yellowstone River above a cutthroat trout spawning area. It is now a popular place to observe fish.
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Last Updated: June 11, 2009 at 10:50 MST