Accurate identification of the Mohave rattlesnake in the event of a snakebite is of extreme importance due to the unique qualities of its venom. Dr. David Hardy, a Tucson physician specializing in snakebite treatment, estimates that ninety percent of the bites in the Tucson area are inflicted by the Mohave and western diamondback rattlesnakes.

The Mohave rattlesnake seems to favor flat grassland or brushy desert, frequently grown to creosote or mesquite.   While the western diamondback may occupy these habitats, the Mohave rattlesnake is rarely found in the more rocky, hilly terrain.