Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Crotalus, Species: Crotalus horridus
Eastern and central United States, from southern New Hampshire and Minnesota south to east Texas and northern Florida.
Look up Timber Rattlesnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Crotalus, Species: Crotalus horridus
Conservation
IUCN Least Concern globally, but many northern states list it as Endangered or Threatened due to habitat fragmentation, road mortality, and historical persecution (rattlesnake roundups).
Physical Description
Heavy-bodied snake with keeled scales. Features a series of dark brown to black chevron-shaped crossbands on a gray, tan, or yellowish-brown background. The tail is typically solid black, ending in a keratinous rattle. The head is large, triangular, and distinct from the neck with heat-sensing loreal pits.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen in the image appears to be a robust adult. Typical adult length ranges from 90 to 150 cm (3-5 feet), with exceptionally large specimens reaching up to 180 cm (6 feet).
Habitat
Primarily deciduous forests with rocky outcroppings and rugged terrain; also found in lowland forests, marshes, and agricultural areas. Utilizes rock crevices for communal winter hibernation (hibernacula).
Diet & Feeding
Specialized ambush predator primarily feeding on small mammals like squirrels, mice, and chipmunks. They use heat-sensing pits to track prey and strike with venom, then trail the scent of the dying animal.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous (gives birth to live young). Females generally reach sexual maturity late (7-10 years) and reproduce once every 2-6 years, producing litters of 5-20 young during late summer or early fall.
Look-alikes
Eastern Diamondback (Crotalus adamanteus) which has diamond patterns rather than chevrons; Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) which have 'hershey kiss' patterns and lack rattles.
Conservation Status
IUCN Least Concern globally, but many northern states list it as Endangered or Threatened due to habitat fragmentation, road mortality, and historical persecution (rattlesnake roundups).
Cultural Significance
Historically used as a symbol of the American colonies (the Gadsden 'Don't Tread on Me' flag). It plays a vital role in forest ecosystems by controlling rodent populations.
Notable Features
The solid black tail (earning it the name 'Canebrake' in the south) and the distinctive chevron-shaped markings are key diagnostic features for this species.