The Western Pygmy Rattlesnake has never been common in this area, but that doesn't stop people from trying to 'identify' what is seen in their yard as one of them! This snake is what people often incorrectly try to refer to as a "ground rattler." Unfortunately, this incorrect name has been used for almost any medium sized snake with spots that is seen. As an example, I have personally performed scores of 'reptile rescue calls in this area over the past 15 years, and have had countless people tell me they have a 'ground rattler' in their yard. Ordinarily these turn out to be harmless Eastern Hognose Snakes (genus Heterodon) or small Texas Rat Snakes (genus Elaphe). I have NEVER documented a Western Pygmy Rattlesnake in Harris County during the same time frame!
As with the incorrect "water moccasin" name, another important reason to call this snake a Western Pygmy Rattlesnake is that this is the name used by all factual current books on the subject. You will not find "ground rattlers" listed in the index of Alan Tennant's A Field Guide to Texas Snakes, my personal favorite field book for identification and information about snakes in Harris County and throughout Texas.
Now that we have the common name established, let's move on to the identification, habits and habitat of this secretive little snake. When full grown, they are still a small snake, with adults only averaging 15 to 20 inches in length. They are generally grayish in background color, with black zig-zag shaped broken markings across the body. This sometimes causes them to be confused with baby Timber Rattlesnakes, but the Western Pygmy has four dark stripes on the head, compared to the Timber's two. The easiest way to differentiate between the two, though, is the size of the rattles. Those of the Timber Rattlesnake are of normal proportions, whereas the Pygmy Rattlesnake's rattles are EXTREMELY small! In fact, a string of seven or eight rattles would only be about a quarter of an inch long. Combine the Western Pygmy Rattlesnake's size, markings and minimal rattles, and it's easy to see how harmless snakes are often mistaken for this venomous one!
Western Pygmy Rattlesnakes normally live in wooded areas near water, and are occasionally seen in the less disturbed woods of the Big Thicket of East Texas. Depending on size, they are known to eat everything from insects and centipedes to small birds, lizards and even mammals.
As with all three of the rattlesnake species that have been recorded in Harris County in the past, the Western Pygmy Rattlesnake has been the victim of habitat loss AND, of course, the old adage that "the only good snake is a dead snake." This has caused them to become extirpated (wiped out by humans) from Harris County. Although I occasionally get those 'ground rattler' calls, they have all turned out to be harmless snakes of one kind or another. Please help me to teach others to respect them by leaving ALL snakes alone!