FAQ

  • Q: Will a rattlesnake attack me, my family unit, or my pets?
  • A: To put it but, no. "Attack" refers to an offensive action, and snakes only bite things larger than them if they're d efending themselves. This tin hateful stepping on, touching or grabbing, and/or cornering a snake. A rattlesnake won't become out of its way to bite you, and requires you to be inside half to iii-quarters of their body length abroad — if not physically making contact with the serpent in the offset identify.
  • Q: Why practise snakes hunt people?
  • A: They don't. Stories of snakes chasing people are driven from fear or hatred. If you encounter a snake while out in straight sunlight and you cease and stay still for some time, the serpent may begin to loose track of you and brainstorm to call back you're a rock or tree casting a nice, cool shadow. It'south likewise possible to encounter a rattlesnake cruising effectually, but at a altitude where it doesn't see you despite y'all seeing information technology. A rattlesnake on the crawl traveling somewhere, if it doesn't see you lot approach, may do the aforementioned call up mentioned previously and call back you're a strange looking rock or tree.
  • Q: I found a baby snake in my 1000. Do I take a nest in my yard?
  • A: Generally, no. Birthing flavour is in the late summer into early autumn (Baronial – October). If you encounter a tiny rattlesnake on the order of 4 – seven″ long late in the summer or in the fall, the reply could be yes. Otherwise, if the snake you constitute is x inches – 1 foot long or more, they're likely to be yearlings or closing in on being a yearling and likely at to the lowest degree a modest altitude away from their siblings — especially if yous encountered the snake in the early to middle part of the summer (May – July).
  • Q: Do all rattlesnakes rattle?
  • A: Most of the time, a rattlesnake will agree off on rattling until they've been approached to close proximity or touched. Some populations may be somewhat used to people or animals walking around, and may in fact remain quiet and still until they've been touched or stepped on. Rattlesnakes may be more than prone to extra early warning if stumbled upon during a warm/hot day if they are out in the sun trying to get into the shade. Snakes tend to become increasingly nervous as their body temperatures increment, and if you get in the mode of them trying to go into a cool, shady spot, they'll likely rattle more equally they attempt to retreat to the shade and go on yous at bay.
  • Q: Can I impale a rattlesnake at my domicile (in California)?
  • A: What you do in the situation where you or someone at your home comes across a rattlesnake is entirely upward to you lot. Information technology isn't illegal to kill a rattlesnake in California as of at present. However, if you hear me out or read into the lives of these creatures, I do promise it'll alter your mind. They don't desire to hurt you lot nor desire to notice themselves in a situation where they fifty-fifty have to defend themselves. If you aren't a mouse or lizard, they won't hurt you as long every bit you don't effort to hurt them. They're gratis pest control, put bated the thought that they're venomous. Plus, they more often than not move along if you requite them infinite and time to get out without the stress of being followed.
  • Q: Does snake repellent piece of work?
  • A: No. I've removed just as many rattlesnakes inside yards with hundreds of dollars in snake repellent used equally I accept at properties that haven't used repellent at all.
  • Q: Do baby rattlesnakes take a rattle? Secondly, practise all rattlesnakes have a rattle?
  • A: Yes, even newborn rattlesnakes will have a unmarried button. If you observe a pocket-size snake with blotches, but a pointy-tipped tail, it's likely a gopher snake or juvenile yellow bellied racer. The answer to the 2nd question is a tad bit more complicated. All rattlesnakes are built-in with a rattle, but they can permanently loose their rattles from an injury at the very tip of their tail but before their rattles beginning. If clipped by a car or if an animate being injuries the very tip of their tail, information technology can sever off the rattles and the very tip of the snakes tail where the rattles are attached. This tin create a rattle-less rattlesnake. A rattlesnake that lost the tip of its tail & rattles will have a blunt-ended tail, though, which helps tell you lot something is missing.
  • Q: Is a juvenile rattlesnake more venomous than an developed?
  • A: In short, no. Juvenile rattlesnake venom glands are a fraction of the size of an adults. Juveniles and adults can both control the venom dispensed in a bite, too. A bite from an adult rattlesnake can evangelize significantly (ten – 20 times, potentially more than) more than venom in a seize with teeth than a juvenile rattlesnake, meaning the obvious: bites from adult rattlesnakes tend to be more severe than bites from juveniles. That said, a seize with teeth from a rattlesnake of any size is an emergency.
  • Q: Where practice rattlesnakes similar to hide?
  • A: Rattlesnakes are secretive creatures. They don't intendance for being out in the open, and are generally seeking a cozy bush-league, rock, woodpile, or something else that provides protection from existence seen & protection from heat. Withal, if these places are harder to find, they may discover shelter against the shady side of a dwelling, in a garage, or under whatever items near our business firm that create some cover. During the summer, snakes will spend most of the daylight hours in or very nigh shade when it's hot out and become more active in the evening to avert overheating in the hot dominicus.
  • Q: I get quite a few rattlesnakes in my yard every yr. Do I have a den?
  • A: It'southward rather uncommon to have a legitimate, cool flavour den site on a property. They of class be, but by and large in places where there isn't a ton of homo activeness. Near of the time, in cases where some yards or properties see lots of snake activity, it'southward because the location is in-between a possible den (or a few) and areas where snakes spend lots of time in the summer (for example, cooler areas, hunting spots, and places to shed their skin). Nosotros've noticed some property owners sometimes sit on long-standing routes that snakes seem to utilize every yr, and this road likely contains many social places where other rattlesnakes interact with each-other, making them feel safe on their road. Den sites are almost e'er in sizeable rock outcrops, that accept deep hugger-mugger burrows keeping them dry out and warm enough to comfortably survive winters.
  • Q: Exercise rattlesnakes come up out at night?
  • A: Yep. When the weather is hot (>90+ degrees during the mean solar day), snakes tend to get increasingly nocturnal. Days when daytime temperatures are virtually (or in excess of) 100 degrees, snakes can get nearly entirely nocturnal, as these temperatures tin can be deadly to snakes caught out in the open when the lord's day is upwards. These heatwaves (featuring daytime temps 100 degrees +) tend to come with nighttime lows in the 70s, specially in the foothills, meaning snakes can be active throughout the unabridged dark.
  • Q: What temperatures do rattlesnakes like?
  • A: When information technology's sunny & clear, air temperatures between 75 – 85 tend to be rattlesnakes' favorite conditions to be cruising around, without existence driven too much by how much shade is available. When it's by and large cloudy out, this temperature range can be extended upwards another 10 degrees to 75 – 95 degrees.
  • Q: Practise rattlesnakes like pelting?
  • A: During the warm season, yes. Rain from monsoonal moisture (or even remnants of tropical weather systems) on warm days can really lead to the highest levels of rattlesnake activity. Rainfall during the summer gives snakes a rare take a chance to get a beverage, and tends to lead to rodents (among a long list of other animals) coming out to take reward of the pelting. Snakes will have advantage of this respite in the oestrus and be more willing to hunt at the surface & travel a flake on these warm, cloudy, showery days.

Frequently asked questions

  • Q: Will a rattlesnake assail me, my family unit, or my pets?
  • A: To put it simply, no. "Assail" refers to an offensive action, and snakes merely seize with teeth things larger than them if they're d efending themselves. This can mean stepping on, touching or grabbing, and/or cornering a snake. A rattlesnake won't become out of its style to bite you lot, and requires you to be within half to 3-quarters of their body length away — if not physically making contact with the snake in the first place.
  • Q: Why do snakes hunt people?
  • A: They don't. Stories of snakes chasing people are driven from fear or hatred. If you run across a snake while out in direct sunlight and you lot stop and stay still for some fourth dimension, the snake may begin to loose track of you and brainstorm to think y'all're a rock or tree casting a overnice, cool shadow. Information technology's besides possible to encounter a rattlesnake cruising effectually, but at a distance where information technology doesn't come across you despite you seeing it. A rattlesnake on the clamber traveling somewhere, if it doesn't run across you approach, may do the same recall mentioned previously and think y'all're a strange looking stone or tree.
  • Q: I found a baby serpent in my yard. Do I have a nest in my yard?
  • A: By and large, no. Birthing flavor is in the tardily summer into early fall (August – Oct). If you come across a tiny rattlesnake on the order of 4 – 7″ long belatedly in the summer or in the autumn, the respond could be yep. Otherwise, if the snake yous plant is 10 inches – ane foot long or more, they're likely to be yearlings or closing in on beingness a yearling and probable at least a modest distance abroad from their siblings — peculiarly if you lot encountered the snake in the early to middle role of the summer (May – July).
  • Q: Do all rattlesnakes rattle?
  • A: Most of the fourth dimension, a rattlesnake will agree off on rattling until they've been approached to close proximity or touched. Some populations may be somewhat used to people or animals walking around, and may in fact remain quiet and all the same until they've been touched or stepped on. Rattlesnakes may be more prone to extra early warning if stumbled upon during a warm/hot day if they are out in the sun trying to get into the shade. Snakes tend to become increasingly nervous as their torso temperatures increase, and if yous get in the mode of them trying to get into a cool, shady spot, they'll likely rattle more as they try to retreat to the shade and keep you at bay.
  • Q: Can I kill a rattlesnake at my dwelling (in California)?
  • A: What you do in the state of affairs where you or someone at your home comes beyond a rattlesnake is entirely upward to yous. Information technology isn't illegal to kill a rattlesnake in California every bit of now. Yet, if you lot hear me out or read into the lives of these creatures, I practice promise information technology'll change your listen. They don't want to hurt you nor desire to find themselves in a situation where they fifty-fifty have to defend themselves. If you aren't a mouse or cadger, they won't hurt you as long as you don't attempt to hurt them. They're free pest control, put aside the idea that they're venomous. Plus, they generally motion along if you give them space and time to exit without the stress of being followed.
  • Q: Does serpent repellent piece of work?
  • A: No. I've removed but every bit many rattlesnakes inside yards with hundreds of dollars in snake repellent used as I have at properties that haven't used repellent at all.
  • Q: Do babe rattlesnakes have a rattle? Secondly, practice all rattlesnakes have a rattle?
  • A: Yes, even newborn rattlesnakes volition have a single button. If yous detect a pocket-size snake with blotches, but a pointy-tipped tail, it's probable a gopher serpent or juvenile yellow bellied racer. The respond to the second question is a tad bit more than complicated. All rattlesnakes are built-in with a rattle, but they can permanently loose their rattles from an injury at the very tip of their tail just before their rattles showtime. If clipped by a automobile or if an creature injuries the very tip of their tail, it tin sever off the rattles and the very tip of the snakes tail where the rattles are fastened. This can create a rattle-less rattlesnake. A rattlesnake that lost the tip of its tail & rattles will accept a blunt-concluded tail, though, which helps tell you something is missing.
  • Q: Is a juvenile rattlesnake more venomous than an developed?
  • A: In short, no. Juvenile rattlesnake venom glands are a fraction of the size of an adults. Juveniles and adults tin can both control the venom dispensed in a seize with teeth, also. A bite from an adult rattlesnake tin can evangelize significantly (ten – 20 times, potentially more) more venom in a bite than a juvenile rattlesnake, meaning the obvious: bites from adult rattlesnakes tend to be more severe than bites from juveniles. That said, a bite from a rattlesnake of any size is an emergency.
  • Q: Where exercise rattlesnakes like to hide?
  • A: Rattlesnakes are secretive creatures. They don't care for beingness out in the open, and are generally seeking a cozy bush, stone, woodpile, or something else that provides protection from being seen & protection from heat. However, if these places are harder to find, they may find shelter against the shady side of a home, in a garage, or under any items nearly our house that create some cover. During the summer, snakes will spend almost of the daylight hours in or very almost shade when it'southward hot out and become more than active in the evening to avoid overheating in the hot sun.
  • Q: I become quite a few rattlesnakes in my g every year. Exercise I have a den?
  • A: It'south rather uncommon to have a legitimate, cool flavor den site on a belongings. They of course exist, just generally in places where there isn't a ton of homo activity. Most of the time, in cases where some yards or properties see lots of snake activeness, it's considering the location is in-between a possible den (or a few) and areas where snakes spend lots of time in the summertime (for example, libation areas, hunting spots, and places to shed their skin). We've noticed some holding owners sometimes sit down on long-standing routes that snakes seem to utilize every year, and this route probable contains many social places where other rattlesnakes collaborate with each-other, making them feel safe on their route. Den sites are nearly always in sizeable rock outcrops, that take deep underground burrows keeping them dry and warm plenty to comfortably survive winters.
  • Q: Practise rattlesnakes come out at night?
  • A: Yes. When the weather is hot (>90+ degrees during the day), snakes tend to become increasingly nocturnal. Days when daytime temperatures are near (or in excess of) 100 degrees, snakes can become virtually entirely nocturnal, as these temperatures tin be deadly to snakes defenseless out in the open when the sun is up. These heatwaves (featuring daytime temps 100 degrees +) tend to come with nighttime lows in the 70s, particularly in the foothills, pregnant snakes can exist active throughout the entire nighttime.
  • Q: What temperatures do rattlesnakes similar?
  • A: When information technology'due south sunny & clear, air temperatures betwixt 75 – 85 tend to be rattlesnakes' favorite conditions to be cruising around, without being driven too much by how much shade is available. When it's mostly cloudy out, this temperature range tin can exist extended up another 10 degrees to 75 – 95 degrees.
  • Q: Do rattlesnakes like pelting?
  • A: During the warm season, yes. Rain from monsoonal moisture (or even remnants of tropical weather condition systems) on warm days can actually lead to the highest levels of rattlesnake activity. Rainfall during the summer gives snakes a rare adventure to go a drink, and tends to lead to rodents (amid a long listing of other animals) coming out to take advantage of the rain. Snakes will take reward of this respite in the oestrus and exist more willing to hunt at the surface & travel a bit on these warm, cloudy, showery days.