Living With Rattlesnakes

Rattlesnake bites can be extremely dangerous, but unlike the popular depiction of rattlesnakes in the media and folklore, they should not be considered vicious and aggressive. The display we often see in pictures and film, with the body partly coiled, the tail rattling loudly, and the head up ready to strike, is a defensive stance, used when they feel that crawling away to safety is a danger to them. This display is a warning not to come any closer or they will strike. When given some space and the chance to escape to a safe place, they will do so quickly rather than attack. Rattlesnakes often use their cryptic color and pattern to blend into their surroundings to hide from other animals that could threaten them. They lie still to avoid detection and do not rattle, because that would give away their location. At other times they rattle readily, sometimes from a good distance, to warn potential enemies of their presence. In both cases they are doing everything they can to avoid confrontation and to avoid striking and biting and using up their valuable supply of venom.
Living With Rattlesnakes / Rattlesnake Bites
Living With Rattlesnakes Tucson Herpetological Society: Living With Venomous Reptiles pdf California Department of Fish and Game: Rattlesnakes in California University of California: Rattlesnakes Management Guide Florida Museum of Natural History: How to Get Along with Snakes Southwestern Field Herping Associates: Venomous Snake Safety Rattlesnake Bites California Poison Control System (search for "rattlesnake bite") University of Arizona: Rattlesnakes Justin Schwartz' Rattlesnake Bite Story and Pictures Sean Bush MD: Venom ER - When snakes strike! eNature - How to Avoid Snakebites and How to Treat One When a Pet Gets Snake Bitten: The amazing story of Andy Cat, a very lucky cat who was bitten by a rattlesnake and survived, thanks to the smart actions of its owners.
Rattlesnake Relocation
Some people want to have a rattlesnake removed from their property instead of trying to kill it themselves. Often the snake they found is harmless, but they want it removed anyway. There are reptile relocators in many parts of the state where rattlesnakes are found that you can contact. There is a very good list available here: Melissa Kaplan's List of Reptile Relocators in California.
Venom Evolution
Is the venom in western rattlesnakes evolving and becoming more dangerous to humans? Here's some information about that: NWF: Venom Emergency! 10/1/2009
Snake Repellents,  Snake Traps, and Snake Fencing
There are several types of snake repellents on the market. Some plug into the ground, claiming to make vibrations that snakes will avoid. Some are powders or liquids that you pour onto the ground, with names such as Dr. T's Snake-A-Way, SerpentGuard, Sweeney's Snake Repellent, Hi-Yield Snake Repellent, Snake Stopper, and Liquid Fence. These typically guarantee to get rid of venomous and non-venomous snakes and keep them from coming back. They claim to be eco-friendly, and use ingredients such as cinnamon, cloves, and fuller's earth, or sulphur and naphthalene (moth balls.) I can't recommend any of them because I have not tested them nor heard from anyone who has had success with them. It would be hard to determine if it works anyway, since snakes are secretive and often nocturnal, so you have no way of knowing that it is working unless you see snakes, which means it isn't. There are YouTube videos claiming to prove that repellents work and others showing that they don't work, such as this one, which makes a very good case against one particular brand, showing that 3 venomous species and one non-venomous snake that were placed inside a wide band of repellent applied in a large circle on the ground, did not hesitate to crawl through the repellent. There are also snake traps on the market, such as Snake Guard Snake Trap and Cahaba Sake Trap. These are similar to "roach motels," being open-ended flat boxes with a sticky bottom. When the snakes crawl into the box, because it looks like shelter, they will get stuck. You can then kill the snake, if you find it before it hasn't died from starvation, exposure, or from being eaten by scavengers, or you can release it after spraying it with non-stick cooking oil. I have not tested these traps, but I suspect they do work, as long as a snake crawls into the trap. That's the problem, since there is nothing inside to attract the snake. It can also be an inhumane method of capture unless you check the trap daily, and will also trap and kill any other kind of animal or invertebrate that enters the box. I've seen Snake Fences for sale, which consist of synthetic netting on small posts about a foot high that you stake to the ground. If a snake tries to crawl through the net, it will get caught. This will probably also work, if you use enough of it, but it is a terribly inhumane method which leaves a snake to suffer, die, and rot or get eaten by a scavenger. You can see more about this subject on my Living With Wild Reptiles and Amphibians page.
Rattlesnake Avoidance Training For Dogs
Some dog owners pay to have their dogs trained to avoid rattlesnakes. Some people think this is cruel to the dogs because it uses electrical shock collars to shock the dog when it gets near a snake, and even cruel to the snakes. The training does not always appear to be effective on all dogs. Organizations like the Humane Society offer the training for a price. Natural Solutions is an online company that also sells this training service (in Southern California, at least.) I can't recommend any of these training programs since I have no personal experience with them, but I have heard from dog owners whose dogs were trained but failed to avoid rattlesnakes, and from others who say the training works. More than one training may be necessary. I have heard animal experts recommend that once the training is completed, dog owners should not automatically assume that their dog will always avoid snakes, but should watch the dog carefully to make sure the training worked. One person whose dog seemed to fail its first training had his dog trained a second time by Natural Solutions with more positive results.
Rattlesnake Vaccines For Dogs
There are a number of companies that offer vaccinations for dogs in order to protect them from rattlesnake venom. I have not researched the validity of their claims so I can't endorse them or tell you to avoid them. You will need to figure that out on your own. I have chosen one site Rattlesnakevaccinations.com to illustrate the claims about what these vaccines will do. Keep in mind that while it looks like unbiased scientific information this site is basically just an advertisement for a particular product. (A product which may work very well, I don't know for sure.) They state that "Rattlesnake vaccine is designed to reduce the likelihood of death, permanent injury, and severe pain caused by rattlesnake bites. The vaccine stimulates the dog's immune system to produce antibodies against rattlesnake venom." They also state that the vaccine doesn't contain the sheep or horse proteins found in antivenom which can cause severe allergic reactions. One vaccine is given, then another is given 30 days later, and then a booster is given every 6 months to a year. Another company that offers information about vaccines is Rattlesnake Vaccines for Dogs.
Rattlesnake Roundups
Some opponents feel that they promote animal abuse and slaughter for amusement and that they use collecting practices that destroy natural habitat. Some supporters think that a roundup is a part of their cultural tradition that brings money into the community, and is educational. Here are some opponents' views: Anapsid.org   Kingsnake.com   Biologicaldiversity.org   (You can find much more online about this controversial topic.)
Rattlesnake Lists and Illustrations From This Website
List of the Different Kinds of Rattlesnakes found in California
Rattlesnake Sounds and Video
Rattlesnake Signs and Images
Identifying the Differences Between Rattlesnakes and Gopher Snakes
Click on the above posters to read them. Harmless and beneficial Gopher Snakes are often mistaken for dangerous rattlesnakes and killed unnecessarily. It is easy to avoid this mistake by learning to tell the difference between the two families of snakes as shown in these signs. If you do not have experience handling venomous snakes, you should never handle a snake unless you are absolutely sure that it is not dangerous.
Books about Rattlesnakes
Ernst, Carl. H. Venomous Reptiles of North America. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1999. Hayes, William K., Kent R. Beaman, Michael D. Cardwell, and Sean P. Bush, editors. The Biology of Rattlesnakes. Loma Linda University Press, 2009. Hubbs, Brian R., & Brendan O'Connor. A Guide to the Rattlesnakes and other Venomous Serpents of the United States. Tricolor Books, 2011. Klauber, Laurence M. Rattlesnakes. University of California Press. (Abridged from the 1956 two volume Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind.) University of California Press, 1982. Rubio, Manny. Rattlesnake - Portrait of a Predator. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1998. Walls, Jerry G. Rattlesnakes: Their Natural History and Care. T. F. H. Publications, Inc., 1996.
Klauber, Laurence M. Rattlesnakes. University of California Press. (Abridged from the 1956 two volume Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind.) University of California Press, 1982.	Klauber, Laurence M. Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind. University of California Press, 1956. (Hardcover 2 volume set.) (Second Edition, 1997.)	Hubbs, Brian R., & Brendan O'Connor. A Guide to the Rattlesnakes and other Venomous Serpents of the United States. Tricolor Books, 2011.
The classic guide to rattlesnakes by the great California Herpetologist.		The original 2009 guide to the rattlesnakes of the United States has been expanded to cover all of the venomous serpents of the United States, including Rattlesnakes, Coral Snakes, Copperheads, and Cottonmouths, with 170 color pictures and 42 range maps.
Rubio, Manny. Rattlesnake - Portrait of a Predator. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1998.	Hayes, William K., Kent R. Beaman, Michael D. Cardwell, and Sean P. Bush, editors. The Biology of Rattlesnakes. Loma Linda University Press, 2009.	Ernst, Carl H. and Evelyn M. Ernst. Venomous Reptiles of the United States, Canada, and Northern Mexico: Crotalus (Volume 2) Johns Hopkins University Press. 2011
Lots of good pictures and information about buzzworms in this nicely-designed book.	"Due in part to the toxic nature of their venom, rattlesnakes comprise the most popular and well-studied group of snakes in the world. The Biology of Rattlesnakes showcases the finest research to date by investigators encompassing an enormous breadth of expertise. With 50 original contributions from 98 authorities covering a diverse range of topics, this landmark volume will be looked upon as authoritative for years to come. The beautiful, full-color plates depicting many of the more than 30 rattlesnake species add a tasteful touch."	This is an updated version of the landmark reference Venomous Reptiles of North America which has been split into two volumes and now covers northern Mexico. Volume two covers all of the crotalus species in North America north of Mexico's twenty-fifth parallel.

© 2000 - 2013