These are the 4 most snake-filled lakes in Arizona, new ranking says
People living in Arizona have more in common with our slithery neighbors than we realize.
Not only can both snakes and people handle the heat, we also often seek out bodies of water to cool down in the sweltering summers.
According to geography website World Atlas’ list of the most snake-infested lakes in Arizona, we have an estimated 41 species of snakes, which puts the Grand Canyon State second to Texas for highest diversity of snakes and greatest number of venomous snakes.
A Diamondback Rattlesnake holds it's ground and goes into a coiled position along a trail in the Browns Ranch area located in an area of State Land north of Dynamite Road.
The next time you visit these four lakes, keep an eye out for some friendly — and not so friendly — serpent friends.
Lake Mead
Located in both southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona, Lake Mead’s water comes from the Colorado River.
Lake Mead’s approximately 247 square miles is plenty of room for the recorded 41 species of reptiles to take a cool dip.
According to World Atlas, five different species of snake have been recorded at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Venomous snakes:
- Mojave snake
- Western diamondback
- Southwestern speckled
- Sidewinder rattlesnake
- Long, black and white striped common king snake
Lake Powell
Lake Powell is a man-made reservoir along the Colorado River that reaches across Utah and Arizona state lines.
The maximum water capacity in Lake Powell is 24 million acre-feet, which, like Lake Mead, is plenty of room to sustain a range of wildlife.
Visitors might spot any of the following snakes in Lake Powell:
- Black-necked garter snake
- Common king snake
- Gopher snake
- Glossy snake
- Long-nose snake
- Night snake
- Patch-nosed snake
- Striped whipsnake
- Wandering garter snake
- Western rattlesnake
Lake Pleasant
Over the years, semi-aquatic snakes have made headlines at Lake Pleasant, according to WorldAtlas. The lake is located less than an hour north of Phoenix on the Agua Fria River.
According to World Atlas, a gopher snake once slithered aboard a motorboat on Lake Pleasant, and rattlesnakes have been filmed swimming across the surface.
Mittry Lake
Mittry Lake is located in the far southwest corner of Arizona, just north of Yuma near California state lines. The Mittry Lake Wildlife Area covers 600 acres of surface water and 2,400 acres of restored marsh, upland terrain, riparian woodland and desert-scrub habitats, according to World Atlas.
Mittry Lake is an important ecosystem for a wide range of plants and animals, including birds, amphibians and snakes. In 2016, 20 southern banded water snakes were pulled from the area. While these snakes are non-venomous, the Florida natives are invasive to the Mittry Lake and the Yuma area.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department estimated that the population of water snakes in Mittry Lake was in the thousands.
Can rattlesnakes swim?
The Arizona Game and Fish Department said rattlesnakes will swim when necessary in pursuit of food, mates or refuge. However, they usually don't travel through water faster than their land speed of two to three miles per hour.
Additionally, in Arizona, species like the gopher snake, coachwhip and common kingsnake are known to take a dip, especially near rivers, lakes or backyard pools.
