These are the 4 most snake-filled lakes in Arizona, new ranking says
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.
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
snakes:
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.
Arizona history: Lake Pleasant wasn't named for its calm waters. How the popular lake was named
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?
Unfortunately, according to previous Arizona Republic reporting, rattlesnakes can and regularly do 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.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What to know about snakes living in Arizona lakes
Solve the daily Crossword
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
American Airlines CFO Declares Worst Is Over, But Cautious Outlook Sinks Stock
American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL) on Thursday reported second-quarter 2025 earnings and revenue that surpassed Wall Street expectations, offering a strong performance despite persistent industry headwinds. However, the company issued a cautious forecast for the third quarter and narrowed its full-year guidance, citing ongoing uncertainty in travel demand. The airline reported an adjusted earnings per share of 95 cents, beating the consensus estimate of 77 cents. Revenue for the quarter rose slightly to $14.39 billion, edging past analyst expectations of $14.3 billion. Also Read: On a GAAP basis, American posted net income of $599 million, or 91 cents per share, highlighting operational strength despite economic pressures and weather-related disruptions across its network. American said the results were driven by strong international and premium cabin performance, growth in its loyalty program, and disciplined cost management. Passenger unit revenue in Atlantic markets climbed 5% from the year-ago quarter, while co-branded credit card spending rose 6%. The company also saw a 7% increase in AAdvantage loyalty program enrollments. The company generated $3.42 billion in operating cash flow through the first half of the year and reported $2.48 billion in free cash flow, helping bring its total available liquidity to $12 billion at the end of the quarter. Total debt stood at $38 billion, with net debt of $29 billion. CEO Robert Isom said the airline is well-positioned to navigate current volatility due to its modernized fleet, loyalty initiatives, and a strengthened balance sheet. American noted that disruptive weather events in key hubs impacted operations during the quarter, though the airline said it maintained reliability amid a 36% increase in such incidents. View more earnings on The company recently introduced new loyalty features, including the ability to use miles for upgrades, and expanded premium offerings such as its Flagship Suite inflight experience and Flagship Lounge in Miami. American Airlines reported modest growth in core operational metrics for the second quarter of 2025, with available seat miles (ASM) rising 3.2% year-over-year and revenue passenger miles (RPM) up 0.9%, signaling steady demand and strategic capacity increases. However, the passenger load factor declined by 1.9 percentage points to 84.7%, indicating slightly lower aircraft occupancy amid expanded service levels. The carrier saw some pricing pressure, as passenger yield dipped 1.5% to 19.96 cents, and passenger revenue per ASM fell 3.6% year-over-year. Despite the decline in unit revenue, American benefited from a 15.3% drop in average fuel prices, helping reduce overall operating cost per ASM (CASM) by 0.8%, with CASM ex-fuel and special items rising 3.4%. The airline ended the quarter with 1,539 aircraft in its fleet and 138,100 full-time equivalent employees, slightly higher than the year-ago period. Outlook American Airlines expects a third-quarter 2025 adjusted loss per share between $0.10 and $0.60, below the consensus estimate of a $0.03 profit, citing current booking levels, demand trends, and fuel prices. For the full year, it projects adjusted earnings between a $0.20 loss and $0.80 profit, with a midpoint of $0.30. The company says the upper end is achievable if domestic demand strengthens, while the lower end would only materialize if unexpected macroeconomic weakness emerges. In the earnings conference call, American Airlines' CFO reportedly said that the airline anticipates receiving 50 new aircraft deliveries this year. Capacity is expected to increase by 5% during the peak July period. However, this growth is projected to slow to 2% in August and decrease by 1% in September. The CFO also stated that the worst is over and year-over-year revenue is expected to show sequential monthly improvements throughout the current quarter. Price Action: At last check Thursday, AAL shares were trading lower by 9.63% at $11.46. Read Next:Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article American Airlines CFO Declares Worst Is Over, But Cautious Outlook Sinks Stock originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Bloomberg
16 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
US Retail Faces Hit As Tourists Spend Abroad
International tourists who travel to the US love to shop — but that might change. Augusta Saraiva explains why travelers are avoiding the US this summer (Source: Bloomberg)
Forbes
16 minutes ago
- Forbes
NYC's Congestion Pricing Is Paying Off As Motor Traffic Drops Through July
Congestion pricing plate readers and EZ-Pass scanners are seen on West End Avenue and 61st Street ... More in Manhattan. (Photo by Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Daily News via Getty Images) The latest data from TomTom shows that New York City's congestion pricing is working as per design. Real-time traffic patterns from January through mid-July indicate that downtown Manhattan has experienced a notable decrease in motor vehicle congestion and a corresponding drop in travel times. The amount of time drivers spend in rush hour has decreased, and average speeds for cars have increased. Congestion decreased by nearly 4% year over year in the first four months of 2025, from 26.2% to 22.8%. Travel times for motorists fell by 90 seconds per 6 miles as average car speeds jumped from 16.3 km/h to 17.1 km/h (note: cars still have average speeds slower than many bicyclists). July congestion continued to drop from 24.4% to 22.3%, with only half the month measured. Formerly known as the Central Business District Tolling Program, and introduced on January 5, 2025, NYC's congestion toll was the first of its kind in the United States. The scheme requires drivers to pay a fee—based on the time and duration of their visit and their vehicle type—to enter the lower part of Manhattan, from the southern end of Central Park to the city's financial district. TomTom data shows year-over-year drop in motor traffic congestion through July 2025 Data from TomTom, released in March, comparing January through mid-March 2025 to the same period in 2024, showed that motor traffic congestion in the tolled area of Manhattan decreased from 24.7% to 16.9%. Average travel times per 10 kilometers improved from 33 minutes and 53 seconds to 30 minutes and 48 seconds. Evening peak hours saw some of the most dramatic changes, noted TomTom in March. 'In early 2024, congestion during the 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. rush hour averaged a staggering 43.2%,' stated a statement from the Dutch location technolgies company. 'In 2025, that number has dropped to 30.3%, shaving off nearly five minutes of the time it takes to travel 10 kilometers during peak congestion.' TomTom advertising poster, Newcastle, UK. Congestion pricing raised about $52 million in toll revenue in February alone—bringing the total for the first two months of operation to $100.6 million, according to documents posted to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 'Congestion pricing, when implemented effectively, not only alleviates traffic but also supports economic growth,' stated TomTom. 'Beyond congestion pricing, we've learned that other tactics can also play a crucial role in alleviating urban traffic,' continued the company statement, including 'expanding public transit networks' and 'promoting cycling infrastructure.' 'Traffic congestion is more than an inconvenience—it impacts economic productivity, increases pollution, and reduces quality of life,' says TomTom. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has so far successfully resisted the Trump administration's attempts to cancel NYC's congestion pricing scheme.
