Why do you call it a safety rest area if there are snakes? lol. :confused:
I never actually seen a rattlesnake at a State Dot rest area, but I did see one at a Arco AM/PM gas station in northern San Diego County, California. Interstate 15. Northern San Diego County is very mountainous.
In Arizona, along I-10 (I think it was the Texas Canyon rest area), there was a swarm of these grasshopper scorpion looking things. They were all over the wall outside the restroom.
At the San Onofre rest area on I-5 in northern San Diego County I once saw a wild rabbit running around at night.
Alligators at the Everglades visitor center on US 41, but that's kinda expected. One other one had had a bear sighting shortly before I got there, but I saw nothing.
Seen deer at the rest areas on I-70 near the crest of the Blue Ridge (South Mountain) in Frederick County, Maryland.
Usually see a fair number of deer carcases along I-70 in Maryland.
Whenever I've traveled at night on I-80 driving back from Lincoln to Omaha, the I-80 eastbound rest area always seems to have something running around, usually squirrels and rabbits. But that's nothing compared to a couple deer I saw at the I-29 northbound rest area between Glenwood and Council Bluffs. Then again, there is a lake right behind it, not to mention the fact the Missouri River is only a couple miles west of there. This was also at night.
I-75 southbound before crossing Payne's Prairie, the rest area there has a "snake wall" to slow down the serpents. There are also warning signs posted throughout the rest area warning of the presence of poisonous snakes. Most of the snakes you will find there are water moccasins, as Payne's Prairie is a wetland.