The Chattooga River area has one species of rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus, the timber rattlesnake. Many researchers divide this one species into a number of subspecies or races. Two of these races occur in our area; the timber rattler, Crotalus horridus horridus, and the canebrake rattler, Crotalus horridus atricaudatus.

The timber is an upland form found in drier, more rocky habitats, while the canebrake occurs in the lowlands and prefers wetter locations. Both races have the same pattern: dark chevron markings on a lighter background color. The canebrake most often has a gray or pinkish background color, a rust colored stripe down the middle of its back and a dark line from the eye to the angle of the jaw. The timber usually has a yellow or straw colored background, an unmarked head, and the mid-dorsal stripe is usually faint or absent. Timbers are sometimes solid black or very dark in color; this is called the black phase. When one has a bright yellow background color, it is called the yellow phase.

The timber rattler is aptly named, for it has a definite preference for forested areas. Although credited with living in just about every habitat in the eastern United States, the most commonly listed habitat is oak lands. This should be expected since oak forests support the greatest quantity of animal life, especially mammals.

All snakes are carnivores; they only eat animals, not plants. Timber rattlers eat small mammals, consisting mostly of mice, rats, squirrels and chipmunks, and some birds. Young snakes have been known to eat frogs, toads and salamanders. They actively pursue them into their burrows or nesting places, or lie in wait along trails where they strike the prey as it passes. When an animal has been bitten it usually dies a short distance away. The snake follows the scent, locates and then swallows the animal whole.

The timber rattler’s record length is 6 feet 2½ inches, but most timbers rarely reach 4 feet in length. Adults usually weigh only 2 or 3 pounds, and have a girth about the size of a man’s wrist. Newborn snakes are about 8 to 12 inches long with a girth similar to a man’s ring finger. They can live 30 to 40 years and continue to grow throughout their lives. Captive specimens regularly live 20 or more years. Although large snakes are fairly free of predation, a long life span would make a fatal encounter with a human or automobile more probable. With an increasing human population and an ever expanding roadway system, large snakes are becoming more uncommon.

The number of segments in the snake’s rattle is sometimes useful in determining its age. When a rattler is born it has what is called a pre-button. This is a flattened shell, shaped somewhat like an M&M candy. This comes off when the snake sheds its first skin, usually within a week after birth. So, if a snake has a pre-button it is only a few days old and has never shed. When the pre-button is shed, a terminal segment remains. This is called a button. It is similar to a pre-button but with a constriction in the middle.

A new rattle segment is added at the base of the rattle each time a rattler sheds. Each segment is about the same width as the tail. During the life of a rattler it will usually shed once or twice a year, and sometimes three or four times a year. Although rattlers grow throughout their lives, growth slows as they age. A rattle that is tapered, and especially if it still has a button, would indicate this is a younger fast-growing snake. An incomplete rattle, one that has been broken off and isn’t tapered, would indicate that this is an older, slow-growing snake.

There is no doubt the timber rattlesnake can be a very dangerous animal and is capable of causing death in humans. Rattlers have always aroused fear, especially among those unfamiliar with its way of life. Let’s look at some statistics. In the United States there are an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 poisonous snake bites annually, resulting in 5 to 10 deaths. More than 80% of the bites occur when handling the snake or trying to kill the snake, and over 50% of the bites are believed to be alcohol related. As a contrast, dog attacks account for 10,000 hospitalizations annually and 10 to 20 reported deaths, at a cost in medical care of up to $30 million.

Humans, through the destruction of our great eastern forests, have been the major factor in the extinction and reduction of rattlers. As forests are destroyed or converted to pine farms, the ranges of many of our wildlife species becomes severely fragmented. Many rattlers are killed on our roads and highways, and in the past man has declared war on not only rattlers, but snakes in general. Numerous animals regularly prey on rattlers, although mostly on young snakes. These predators include hogs, dogs, coyotes, raccoons, opossums, foxes, domestic cats, bobcats, king snakes and black racers.

The red-tailed hawk is especially fond of snakes, including rattlers. Bald eagles, wild turkeys, blue herons and owls have also been known to kill and eat rattlers. The large-mouth bass will no doubt eat young rattlers if they are found swimming. Rodents, including rats, mice and woodchucks have been known to kill rattlers. Deer have long been known for killing rattlers; they leap repeatedly onto the snake with all four feet. It is also known that cattle kill many snakes by inadvertently stepping on them. Many researchers believe that freezing weather may be one of the biggest killers of rattlers. Young snakes born in the fall can be caught out in the cold, or fail to find a safe place to hibernate for the winter.

Like many animals, rattlers of the temperate zones must hibernate through the cold winters. Places where rattlers congregate to spend the winter are called dens. Because they are cold-blooded and can’t generate their own body heat, they must find a hole or cavity that isn’t subject to flooding and is deep enough to be below the frost line. Most all den sites are on southern slopes, and a den may have only a few snakes or several hundred.

In the spring when the snakes emerge from the den or in the fall when they gather at the den, populations are concentrated in this area. If someone happens onto one of these areas it gives a false impression of the overall rattler densities. Rattlers will wander as much as 6 miles away from the den sites during the summer months. Throughout the United States various areas are renown for their rattlesnake dens. In the past there have been campaigns to destroy the snakes at these dens or the dens themselves have been destroyed with dynamite.

Many people think making noise as you walk through the woods will scare any snakes away. However, snakes are deaf, and cannot hear airborne noise. A good rule to follow, no matter where you are, is to always watch where you step or put your hands. Rattlers usually react to humans in three ways. They often become motionless; they freeze. This is a common defense against birds such as hawks. It is difficult for birds to see camouflaged animals unless the animal moves.

Sometimes, if startled, rattlers will become very excited, form a coil, puff up their bodies and buzz (rattle) continuously. Lastly, and most often, they will flee. Rattlers almost always retreat from an encounter with humans. If you come upon a rattler in the wild, simply step back and watch. The rattler will do you no harm and it might even let you take a picture or two. The chances of getting bit by a snake are very remote even if you stumble blindly through the woods.

If you are bitten by a rattlesnake, first take a look at the bite itself. Many times it can be a dry bite. That is, the snake didn’t inject venom, it struck with its mouth closed or the snake wasn’t poisonous. Let’s consider the signs and symptoms of a rattlesnake bite.

If you are bitten, the first rule is to DO NO HARM. There is no statistical difference in the clinical course between patients who did and did not receive first aid prior to coming to the hospital for treatment.

Rattlers play an important role in the development and maintenance of our forests and other natural areas. Much credit has been given hawks and owls for their role in controlling rodents. They prey on rodents that are moving about on the surface of the forest floor. Rattlers not only prey on the rodents that are on the surface, but go right into their nests and underground burrows. In turn, rattlers are preyed upon by other animals. Rattlesnakes are an integral part of our American forests; that’s where they belong, and that’s where they need to be.

Many states have realized the importance of their native plants and animals and have passed laws protecting a number of different species. In 1983, New York was the first state to protect the timber rattler. States that followed include Wisconsin, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Many of the western states have, since the 1970’s, protected their various species of rattlesnakes. Some conservation groups are pushing for protection of the timber rattler. A number of state and local laws have been enacted to protect den sites. It is against the law to kill any wildlife (plant or animal) within national forests without the proper permit.

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