How To Identify A Timber Rattlesnake? Complete Explanation

Western diamondback rattlesnakes are named for their diamond-shaped markings on their backs that are darker than the base color. They have a rattle at the end of their tails. Timber rattlesnakes, by comparison, are smaller than diamondbacks.

In the wild, timber rattlers are found in a wide range of habitats, including forests, grasslands, chaparral, sagebrush, scrub, and desert.

Here’s a pretty interesting video about the process:

Where do timber rattlesnakes hide?

In order to effectively strike their prey, timber rattlesnakes use an elevated perch from fallen logs. During the day and night, these snakes can be active. In open rocky areas known as crevices, females often bask in the sun before giving birth. Timber rattlers are found in a wide variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, chaparral, and grassland scrub.

They are also found as far north as the Rocky Mountains and south to the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Plains.

How toxic is a timber rattlesnake?

Like other vipers, the timber rattlesnake is venomous with venom potent enough to kill a human. A medical emergency is caused by a timber rattlesnake bite. Rattlesnake bites are not very common. The timber rattlesnake is a member of the pit viper family and has a venom glands in its head that can cause paralysis and death.

Timber rattlers are most often found in wooded areas, but they can also be found on the ground, in brush, along roadsides, and along the edges of streams and lakes. They are often seen in groups of two or more. Timber rattle snakes are not aggressive and will not bite unless provoked. If you see a timber snake, do not approach it. Instead, move away from the snake and call 911.

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How far can a timber rattlesnake strike?

Rattlesnakes can only strike a distance of two-thirds of their body length. A three foot long snake can strike a distance of three-quarters of a foot, while a four footer can only strike about one-third of that distance.

In the case of the snake pictured above, it is likely that it would be possible for it to reach a maximum of about three feet. However, this is not to that a snake of this size could not strike at a much greater distance than this.

The reason for this, of course, is that, in order to inflict a fatal wound on a large snake, one would have to be very close to it. This is because, as we have seen, the average snake is only about two feet in length, and a human being is about four feet tall.

How do you tell if a snake is a rattlesnake?

An adult rattlesnake will usually have a nice-sized rattle, so that’s easy, but a young rattlesnake may only have a single button. Look for rings at the base of arattlesnake’s tail, or a long tail which ends in a point.

What snake mimics rattlesnakes?

Bullsnakes look similar to rattlesnakes, and can mimic their behavior. They lack pits above their nostrils and their tails are longer than their bodies, but they have narrow heads and round pupils. They are most common in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and the Carolinas.

What time of day are rattlesnakes most active?

Rattlesnakes are the most active in the morning and evening. They hunt mice and rodents in darkness because they can sense body heat with special organs in their head and neck. Rattle snakes are not venomous, but their venom can cause severe pain and even death if ingested.

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