Because they occur in the U.S. only in Arizona (with the exception of the banded rock rattlesnake, which is also found in New Mexico and western Texas) and because of their marked preference for very specialized habitats within their limited U.S. range, these three species have been protected by Arizona law.

All three species have been widely sought by both private collectors and scientific institutions for breeding, display, and study. Excessive and unrestrained collecting, indiscriminate killing and other human activities have depleted some populations.

However, the opportunistic and highly selective activity patterns of these animals, largely influenced by climatological factors, makes accurate evaluation of their true population status difficult. Many areas of prime habitat which have been collected heavily for many years still yield specimens under the right conditions. Nevertheless, all three species are unique, highly specialized, vulnerable to human impact and warrant serious management and protection.