By How can you tell a juvenile rattlesnake?
A rattlesnake’s most distinguishing feature is its rattles, but baby rattlers don’t have rattles until they shed their skin for the first time. Instead, the baby has a little knob – called a button – on its tail. When an adult rattlesnake feels threatened, it coils, rattles and hisses all at the same time.
How can you tell how old a timber rattlesnake is?
You can tell how old a rattlesnake is by the number of segments on its rattle. Rattlesnakes get a new segment each time they shed their skin. Unlike the rest of the skin, the section that covers the very end of the rattle doesn’t fall off. Because of its grooved shape, it doesn’t release from the new segment.
What does the timber rattlesnake look like?
They are gray, sometimes with a pinkish hue and have a stripe down their back. This stripe is orange, yellow or pinkish in some timber rattlesnakes, while others have a brown or black stripe. Like other vipers, the timber rattlesnake is venomous with venom potent enough to kill a human.
How can you tell the difference between a male and female timber rattlesnake?
One of the differentiating features of males and females is the males have thicker and longer tails (because they contain the inverted hemipenes). Also, the tails of males taper gradually from the body, whereas the tails of females narrow abruptly at the vent. Male rattlesnakes have longer tails than females do.
How poisonous are baby rattlesnakes?
Baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adults. Not really. It’s a myth that baby rattlesnakes release more venom than adults, said UC Davis conservation biology professor Brian Todd. In fact, babies are typically less dangerous because they have less venom to inject when they bite, Todd said.
What is the lifespan of a timber rattlesnake?
10 to 20 years
Survival rates and mortality: Life span for the timber rattlesnake is 10 to 20 years and may be up to 30 years [7,8,9,48].
What is the lifespan of a rattlesnake?
The natural lifespan of an eastern diamondback rattlesnake is probably 15 to 20 years, but evidence from the field indicates that few individuals today live longer than 10 years, likely due to exploitation for the skin trade, vehicle strikes and other human-driven threats.
What time of day are timber rattlesnakes most active?
Timber rattlesnakes live up to ten years. Although diurnal (active during the day) during spring and fall, timber rattlesnakes become nocturnal (active at night) during the oppressive heat of the summer. They will coil beside a fallen tree or log and wait for their quick-moving prey to pass.
What do you do if you see a timber rattlesnake?
If you have a timber rattlesnake in your yard that is causing concern, you may contact your local law enforcement center for assistance. They have a list of people who will respond to rattlesnake calls and can relocate a snake, if needed, or provide advice on how to get the snake to move away from your property.
What state has the most timber rattlesnakes?
Pennsylvania
As it turns out, most timber rattlesnakes in Pennsylvania are found on public land above 1,800 feet elevation. Of the three venomous snakes that occur in Pennsylvania, most people have heard about this one.