Rattlesnake Facts and Stories

My father, LaVarr B. Webb, has written a series of fun stories about his adventures growing up in Utah's Dixie. Many deal with rattlesnakes. You can read the rattlesnake stories here.

I've also had many experiences with rattlesnakes. While growing up my family lived on the outskirts of the tiny town of Leeds, near St. George. We built a couple houses in the sagebrush on the edge of the wilderness. We often found rattlesnakes up against the house foundation, and more out in the barn.

We had animals, cows, pigs, chickens, and mice would come in to scavenger for feed grain and other food items. And, or course, snakes would come in hunting for mice. We found many a rattlesnake in the grain sack.

I've also encountered many rattlesnakes while fishing, hiking, camping and hunting. It is always exciting when you are jumping from one side of the creek to the other and midway across you see a snake tail twitching right where you are schedule to land. It is difficult but not impossible to change directions mid-flight.

When I was young we killed all rattlesnakes on sight. We chopped off heads with shovels, beat them to death with tree limbs, shot them with shotguns and otherwise dispatched them. We usually collected their rattles and often had long strings to show as trophies.

Now days I prefer to live and let live. If I see a rattler near a populated area I call animal control and they relocate the snake. If the snake is out in the wild, I leave it along. I've never seen a rattlesnake that didn't try to get away. If they are given a chance, they will flee rather than fight. In the days when I killed them I always had to chase them down. It was never the other way around.

Here are some facts and facilities about rattlesnakes, taken from my research and personal experience.

1. Rattlesnakes are aggressive and will chase you to bit you. Wrong. If they can, they will get away. If you corner them they will fight.

2. Rattlesnakes will launch into the air and strike you, even if you are many feet way. Wrong. The snakes' strike range is only about half the length of their bodies. They can't launch their entire body off the ground.

3. Rattlesnakes always have rattles. The best way to identify a rattler is to look for the rattles. Wrong. Young snakes may not have rattles. Mature snakes that have just molted may not have rattles. The coloration and pattern on the snake's skin may vary widely. The best way to identify a rattlesnake is to look at its head. Rattlesnakes have a distinct diamond shaped head. Other snakes have a rounded head. Look at a couple and you will clearly see the difference.

4. Rattlesnakes can swim. True. I've occasionally seen snakes swim across or down rivers and into lakes.

5. Rattlesnakes can climb trees. True. The snakes are most often seen on the ground but they can be found on logs and sometimes even in lower tree branches.

6. Rattlesnake bites are deadly. If you are bitten you will probably die. Wrong. If you are bitten you will probably get very sick. The area around the bite may swell up and turn black and blue. But in the United States people seldom die from rattlesnake bites.

Every year a small number of people are bitten by rattlesnakes in the U.S. One statistic I read said that 90% of bites occur while the person is drunk and trying to catch the snake. If you don't want to be bitten then don't try to catch snakes while you are drunk.

But don't hesitate to hike, bike, camp and explore. If you are lucky enough to see a snake it will probably be a fleeting view while the snake is fleeing.

- Dave Webb