Reptile · GBIF taxon 2444468
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridusAlso known as Banded Rattlesnake, Canebrake Rattlesnake
Timber rattlesnakes spend winter communal denning in deep rocky crevices before dispersing into surrounding deciduous forests and mountain ridges during warmer seasons. Adults rely on cryptic coloration and patience, remaining motionless for days while waiting along log runways to ambush rodents. When threatened, they vibrate their keratin tail rattle as a clear warning rather than striking immediately.
VenomousPit ViperReptile
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Eastern Chipmunks
- White-footed Mice
- Gray Squirrels
Predators
- Red-tailed Hawks
- Coyotes
- Kingsnakes
ThreatsHabitat destruction, human persecution, illegal collecting, and snake fungal disease
HabitatsDeciduous forests, rocky ledges, swamps, and pine flatwoods
Life span15 to 30 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyViperidae
- SpeciesCrotalus horridus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Delivers dangerous venomous bites; observe from a distance of at least ten feet.
- Why it is dangerous
- Venom delivers potent neurotoxins and hemotoxins that destroy tissue, cause internal bleeding, and require immediate medical antivenom.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a thick body with dark chevron bands, heat-sensing pit organs, and a dark tail tipped with a prominent rattle.
- What to do
- Freeze immediately if heard or spotted, locate the snake without moving closer, and slowly back away at least ten feet.
- What to notice
- Recognized by dark dorsal chevrons on a yellow, brown, or black background and communal sunning behavior near rocky ledges.
- Support conservation
- Never report or publish specific coordinates of hibernacula or active den sites to prevent poaching and harassment.
Responsible observation
- Stay on Trails: Stick to clear paths and avoid stepping blindly over logs or into tall brush where snakes rest.
- Give Space: Maintain a distance of at least two snake lengths if a coiled or rattling snake is encountered.
- Listen Carefully: Treat the sound of a rattling tail as an immediate instruction to freeze and step backward slowly.
Co-occurring Pit Viper Wikimedia Commons / Public domain · cc0
Predator (c) Amy Huie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Prey (c) Kristof Zyskowski, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kristof Zyskowski · cc-by
Close Relative (c) evangrimes, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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