How to tell how old a rattlesnake is

The age of a rattlesnake cannot be determined from the number of its rattle segments, as rattlesnakes usually shed three or four times a year. In captivity, 10 species have lived from 20 to 30 years.

Counting the “buttons” on a rattlesnake’s rattle is not an accurate measure of the snake’s age. Rattlesnakes get extra buttons in conjunction with how often they shed, and they may shed several times in a year. The buttons on the end of the rattle tend to break off, as well.

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.

Counting the Rattles

Unless you know when the snake hatched, you can’t determine the exact age of a rattlesnake, but you can count the rattles to figure a rough estimate as to how old the snake is. On average, you can estimate the snake added two or three rattles for each year of his life.

Subscribe Now

Sabrina Rodriguez introduces us to “Striker.” Striker is turning 32-years-old, which is the oldest rattlesnake on record.

Snakes will often eat insects, amphibians, and other reptiles, so keeping them at bay is key. What scents do snakes dislike? There are many scents snakes don’t like including smoke, cinnamon, cloves, onions, garlic, and lime. You can use oils or sprays containing these fragrances or grow plants featuring these scents.

Rattlesnakes are large, venomous snakes that are found throughout North and South America. The greatest concentration of them is in the Southwestern United States and in Northern Mexico. Arizona is home to 13 species of rattler, more than any other state.

Rattlesnake Predators & Threats

Owls, eagles and hawks enjoy making a rattlesnake their meal. Strong predatory birds like these swoop down from flight to attack and carry the snake away in their talons. Wild breeds of cats, foxes, coyotes and even turkeys like to eat rattlesnake meat, too.

Use a snake repellent such as Snake Out around your yard and perimeter to ward off Rattlesnakes and deter them from the area. You could also try to use a Solutions Human Live Trap with live or deceased rodents to use as bait.

Calcium cyanide is a good chemical for killing snakes taking refuge in burrows, while there are several gases that sometimes work in fumigating dens. The use of certain insecticide sprays used in a hand sprayer also has possible uses.

Every snake has a well-established home range – a place where they know where to hide, where to get food, and know the lay of the land. … Relocating snakes short distances is ineffective because they will likely find their way back to their home range.

Ammonia: Snakes dislike the odor of ammonia so one option is to spray it around any affected areas. Another option is to soak a rug in ammonia and place it in an unsealed bag near any areas inhabited by snakes to deter them away.

Most snakes live as solitary animals, and many rattlesnakes follow that same course. However, rattlesnakes often share resting spaces with others of the same species, especially their young. They typically hunt alone, so if you see a rattlesnake in your yard, there’s not much concern of more following behind.

Rattlesnakes do have some climbing ability, but they can’t climb up straight walls or metal. Rattlesnakes do sometimes hang out in trees or low branches of bushes, or climb through breaks in rocks … but these rough and well-edged surfaces are a very different situation than the modern block wall or wire mesh.

As I understand it, rattlers can hold their breath for up to 45 minutes, so, you see, you can’t drown a rattlesnake.

Cayenne pepper or used coffee grounds also will stop creepy crawlies in their tracks. … The grounds also are a good way to fertilize, as the beans contain nitrogen.

Use of Snake Repellents

Mothballs are commonly thought to repel snakes, but they are not intended to be used this way and have little effect on snakes.

While they can be out any time, rattlesnakes are most active in the morning and from dusk into the night. They hunt mice and rodents in darkness because they can sense body heat with special organs on their face.

How Far Can a Rattlesnake Jump? Snakes cannot jump, but instead lunge forward from a coiled position at an accelerated speed.

Rattlesnakes can swim. Be careful when stepping over doorsteps as well. Snakes like to crawl along the edge of buildings where they are protected on one side.

While dangerous, rattlesnakes (and most snakes in general) are not aggressive and won’t chase you. They only strike when they’re threatened or accidentally touched by someone who can’t see them while walking or climbing.

Rattlesnake Den Locations

As snakes are not capable of digging holes, it is common for rattlesnakes to make dens out of vacant rodent burrows. Snakes typically seek out locations on high hillsides with plenty of sun exposure. Rattlesnakes can spend the winter under logs and piles of wood or rock as well.

If you hear the warning rattle, move away from the area and do not make sudden or threatening movements in the direction of the snake. Remember rattlesnakes do not always rattle before they strike! Do not handle a freshly killed snake – it can still inject venom.

Rattlesnake speeds have not been specifically measured, but they likely travel at about 2 to 3 miles per hour in very short bursts. In comparison, the fastest humans can run up to 28 miles per hour. The average human could easily outrun a rattlesnake.

You’ll begin to see symptoms immediately, but your symptoms will worsen over time. Ideally, you’ll reach medical help within 30 minutes of being bitten. If the bite is left untreated, your bodily functions will break down over a period of 2 or 3 days and the bite may result in severe organ damage or death.