Snake Behavior - Tumblr Posts
Love your blog! Totally cool if you don’t jive with this question, I’m on a rattlesnake kick- general consensus seems to be that rattlesnake “aggression” ranges from Black Tailed (not gonna bite unless really really antagonized*) to Mojave (easiest to set off + stands ground so firmly it gets misread as the aggressor)
Do you think this is an accurate way of looking at it? If so, where do you think some other species would rank on this scale (e.g, southwestern speckled or Arizona black)?
* leave the venomous noodles alone even if unlikely to bite of course
I love rattlesnakes and I think I've worked with every species native to the US! They're generally some of my absolute favorite snakes to work with.
Important note first, just in case any readers don't know: it's inaccurate to call any snake "aggressive," they're just animals and snakes are timid as a rule. Some species are more defensive than others, and it's important to remember most snakes have a high tolerance for human foolishness and will only bite when they feel afraid or threatened.
The vast majority of rattlesnakes tend to be very timid, sensitive snakes! Blacktails are absolutely the most easy-going I've ever met, I did a tagging project on a population a few years back and they're so sweet you feel kind of silly holding them on a hook. Timber rattlers are also very mild-mannered, as are Arizona blacks.
Smaller species, like sidewinders, tend to be a bit snappy and more easily startled, but that's standard for smaller snakes in general. Pygmy rattlers are an exception to that rule - they're the smallest rattlesnakes but are right up there with blacktails as super chill little dudes.
Most species of rattlers aren't super defensive snakes, but there are a few that stand out. Mojaves, as you mention, but I think the most defensive I've ever worked with tend to be western diamondbacks.
Honestly, wild rattlesnakes, even diamondbacks, are some of the easiest venomous snakes to work with (in a professional setting and with appropriate equipment, of course!), and across species the socialized rattlers in venom labs and wildlife centers are a dream. Even the most defensive rattlers I've ever met have nothing on bullsnakes - the difference is, of course, that rattlesnakes can envenomate you!