Really nice shot, Steven. You sure you didn't pick him up and set him among the blades of grass.
All the years I have been traveling into the desert, I've never seen one. Just a Gila Monster, once. Voted.
Using a 300mm f4.0L IS allowed me to keep a safe distance. A snake has a reach of the length of its body. This guy was about 3 feet long so we kept a good 4-5 feet.