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 the difference between a baby rattlesnake and a bull snake?
To tell the two snakes apart,
look for the rattle and note the tail position
. … The two snakes also have distinct heads. Rattlesnakes have triangular heads that are wider than their body, while bullsnakes have narrow heads streamlined to their body. Bullsnakes have eyes on the side of their head with circular pupils.
Do baby rattlesnakes rattle?
Younger snakes can be more hazardous because they’re small and hard to see, and because they are born without a rattle. The rattle grows each time the snake sheds its skin, so a baby rattler may not have shed enough times to give a warning before striking, Todd said.
How do you tell if a snake is a rattlesnake?
Rattlesnakes have triangular heads that are wider than their body
, while bullsnakes have narrow heads streamlined to their body. Bullsnakes have eyes on the side of their head with circular pupils. Rattlers have eyes that are more forward-facing and have slit-like pupils.
At what age does a rattlesnake get its rattle?
When the snake is
about 2 weeks old
, his first rattle section will form, and every time he sheds a new section is added to the tail. Baby and juvenile snakes have a lot of growing to do, and they shed more often than adults.
What to do if you see a rattlesnake?
Stay calm •
Call Dispatch via radio or 911
• Wash the bite area gently with soap and water if available • Remove watches, rings, etc., which may constrict swelling • Immobilize the affected area • Keep the bite below the heart if possible • Transport safely to the nearest medical facility immediately.
How do you get rid of baby rattlesnakes?
- Remove as many attracting features as possible. …
- Cut bushes back from walls and use a garden hose to flood any rodent burrows you find, especially near the house.
What snake looks like a rattlesnake but has no rattle?
Although the buzzing sound of a
gopher snake’s
tail vibrating against the ground sounds nearly identical to the vibration of a rattlesnake’s actual rattle, gopher snakes lack the rattle found on the end of a rattlesnake’s tail.
Does vinegar keep snakes away?
Vinegar:
Vinegar is effective at repelling snakes near bodies of water
including swimming pools. Pour white vinegar around the perimeter of any body of water for a natural snake repellent. … Snakes don’t like the smell of the mixture and the fumes are also itchy on their skin.
How do you identify a baby snake?
The most obvious difference is in size. Coloration, scales, and head shape differ from species to species but generally remain the same when comparing adults to babies. Baby snakes
do have a distinguishing egg tooth on their snout
that allows them to exit the egg or live birth sac.
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.
How many baby rattlesnakes are born at a time?
Mothers can store sperm for months before fertilizing the eggs, and then they carry babies for about three months. They only give birth every two years, usually to
about 10 baby rattlers
. Mothers don’t spend any time with their offspring, slithering off as soon as they are born.
How far do baby rattlesnakes travel?
During their active months, they can journey as far as
1.6 miles
from their dens to their favorite hunting and basking areas.
What are rattlesnakes afraid of?
Rattlesnakes aren’t aggressive to humans unless threatened
or frightened
. They eat mice and rodents and are shy of bigger animals. If they sense you, they will usually try to escape. Give them space to do so.
What to do if you come across a snake while hiking?
If you see or hear a snake, the best thing to do is to stop,
assess the situation, slowly back away, and wait at a safe distance for the snake to leave
. If there is a way to detour far around the snake, that’s a good option too. Don’t try to scare the snake away, approach the snake, or move the snake.
Can you outrun a rattlesnake?
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
.
