Going camping with family in Wyoming... terrified of some bugs, snakes. Can you help me? (Gillette: home, living in)

[Happy in Wyoming]

I need to research this a bit more. First, I must correct one point. C. v. viridis is found in Carbon County to the west of the Continental Divide. That's the Rawlins area. The snakes mentioned here aree all found in Montana. Stephens Creek is outside the park. Reese Creek is a boundary, and Rattlesnake Butte is near the boundary. This makes sense as it is adjacent to habitat farther north in Montana.

As far as harmless snakes are concerned, I can find nothing authoratative. The elevation seems too high. I've seen garter snakes at 6800', but no higher. I'll report back.

[SkunkApe]

Found in North America over much of the Great Plains, from southern Canada south through the United States to northern Mexico. In Canada it occurs in Alberta and Saskatchewan; in the USA in eastern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, extreme eastern Arizona; in Mexico in northern Coahuila and northwestern Chihuahua. Its vertical range from 100 m near the Rio Grande River to over 2,775 m elevation in Wyoming

Prairie Rattlesnakes - Crotalus viridis

That source says over 2775 meters for elevation. That's 9104 feet. Interesting.

Let us not forget, we have eiafjam's eyewitness testimony as to the presence of rattler's in the park. How high up were they, eiafjam?

[eiafjam]

Elevation5,259 ft (1,603 m)Elevation5,259 ft (1,603 m)Gardiner, Mt is the northern entrance to Yellowstone park Elevation5,259 ft (1,603 m)

[eiafjam]

The reason it is called Rattlesnake Butte is obvious. Walk up the road in front of the bunkhouse on NPS property and if you look directly across the Gardiner river that is the Butte. Go there yourself and see.

[SkunkApe]

Originally Posted by eiafjam

The reason it is called Rattlesnake Butte is obvious. Walk up the road in front of the bunkhouse on NPS property and if you look directly across the Gardiner river that is the Butte. Go there yourself and see.

No way. I don't want to get snake-bit.

[WyoNewk]

Originally Posted by eiafjam

The reason it is called Rattlesnake Butte is obvious. Walk up the road in front of the bunkhouse on NPS property and if you look directly across the Gardiner river that is the Butte. Go there yourself and see.

I'll take your word for it, thank you.

I lived in San Angelo, TX for a couple years and became friends with a native rancher. He always looked forward to the big rattlesnake hunt they held every spring and urged me to join him. Uhhhhhh, yeah. I'll give that some serious thought. I've never been a fan of any snake, let alone the ones with big fangs and rattles on their tails.

I was just thinking the elevation was higher throughout the park than it actually is. I knew better if I'd have thought about it for a second.

[eiafjam]

not a problem................just one of the many experiences' from my years in Yellowstone.

[mtlogger]

Originally Posted by Happy in Wyoming

According to everything I've read, there are no rattlesnakes in Wyoming west of the Continental Divide.

It's a good thing snakes can't read. I've found them in every state including Alaska (garter snakes in SE). You're in Cody - and that's EAST of the divide!

[Happy in Wyoming]

There are Prairie Rattlesnakes here. I've seen one on my property.

[akliffmiller]

Im from illinois but now currently live in mississippi. I hate the bugs and humidity here!! I went out east to the smokies and we loved the mountains! I really want to head out to wyoming or colorado and would love to even live there. But im very curious about the bugs out there. Down here we have cockroaches and i hate it!! I feel like i live in the bug state. I have had a hugh fear of bugs ever since my cat that is always inside got out for a bit and packed a flea in. I have been scared of all bugs fleas, ticks, bed bugs and even lice when my son goes to school. I know its probably a fear but i just wondered if you have much trouble with those. Thanks so much i appriciate any info that may help me!