Rattlesnakes have been on this continent for tens of thousands of years.

There are signs of them everywhere.

Here in New Mexico's Petroglyph National Park, you can see their importance to the Anasazi people, the ancient ancestors of the modern Pueblo Indians.

They held snakes in high regard, but not just any snakes. Look at that tail, these are the rattlesnakes.

The rattlesnake has a great history here.

But unfortunately, they are becoming more difficult to find as people kill them out of fear or ignorance.

And I'm looking for the most feared of them all, the western diamondback.

The rainy weather has been a setback.

But now I was hot on the trail again.

I'm taking a bit of a chance here because this guy is pretty venomous.