I've been working with rattlesnakes for 2 years, snakes for about 6 years, and reptiles for much more... but I don't understand this correlation between droughts and rattlesnake sightings. I've heard that there is a correlation between rattlesnake sighting and a drought while working in Kentucky and recently in the news out in California. I personally think that more people are seeing rattlesnakes in places like California because there are simply more people... But I'd be interested in listening to what others have to say.
This is a guess and nothing more, but I would have thought that rattlesnakes would be happier to move into more populated areas or more used walking trails during periods of drought, either in search of water or following prey that moves with the water
My (hopefully rational) thoughts: In arid environments, precipitation is positively correlated with primary productivity which strongly influences the population dynamics of arthropods and small mammals. In drought conditions, rattlesnakes are likely to become food stressed due to reduced prey availability and may therefore forage more widely, or for longer periods, simply making them more conspicuous. In addition to this - and with the above reasoning in mind - rattlesnakes may seek out wetter environments during droughts. Where better for them to go than the watered gardens surrounding peoples homes. This might explain the phenomenon of increased sightings during droughts - it is certainly the only logical explanation I can think of right now.
Could it be simply because the vegetation growth isn't as vigorous making them more visible? I'm only around the prairie rattler which isn't aggressive and would, I assume, rather sneak away unobserved.
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