Mojave on the Move
by Judy Kennedy
Title
Mojave on the Move
Artist
Judy Kennedy
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
On June 29, 2019, I had the pleasure of capturing a Mojave Rattlesnake on my property and then releasing it back into the wild. A video of this event is published on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT02exYu-rc
This is not an irregular event for me, so I always take advantage of the situation and get some video footage and photographs out of it for artistic and educational purposes. In fact, this was my first foray into multi-camera production. This particular shot was taken by one of my remote cameras at ground-level, clearly depicting the snake crossing the Vekol Wash which is situated in northwest Pinal County about 60 miles south of Phoenix, Arizona. It is a xeroriparian wash with great historical and ecological significance in the Sonoran Desert - the most diverse and beautiful desert in the southwestern United States of America.
I love these snakes and the mojave (pronounced mohavee with the accent on the “ha”) is probably my favorite rattler because its markings are so distinct and its personality is a bit feisty. Considered one of the most dangerous vipers in the United States, its venom is neurotoxic - meaning that if you’re unlucky enough to get in its way and suffer the consequences, the symptoms include paralysis, difficulty breathing, and even death. They were here first, and only strike in self-defense. Otherwise, if you’re lucky enough to see them from a safe distance, then enjoy their beauty and grace, which I aim to capture in all my photographs and videos. These snakes keep rodent populations down and are equally vital for the health of the ecosystem.
Uploaded
November 18th, 2019
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