As the sun begins to set, a large Northern Pacific Rattlesnake crosses a country road near Elkton in rural southwestern Oregon on July 13, 2025. These ambush predators often hunt at dusk, relying on heat-sensing pits to detect small mammals and birds. Their venom is highly toxic, designed to quickly immobilize prey, and while rarely fatal to humans, it can cause serious injury if untreated. (Photo by Robin Loznak/ZUMA Press Wire/Rex Features/Shutterstock)
