Question about rattlesnakes?

When I was a kid in California in the national forest, we traveled mostly on horseback. I never encountered a diamondback that didn't rattle before I was close enough to even see him, although my horse usually knew before I did.

When I worked the wheat harvest during those years, we often found rattlers in the combine heads, but again, they let you know that they were in there.

I always believed, "Mr. Rattlesnake is a gentleman. He generally warns you before he strikes." as well.

Since I moved to Missouri, i haven't seen or heard a rattler in years, so I don't know about their current behavior, but the pig thing makes sense. I WILL tell you that the copperheads here do NOT have the same manners as rattlers do. They will actually come after you!

This is a growing problem in a lot of places that have a feral pig problem. I live where we have a problem with some very large hogs have gone feral and they found where the rattlesnakes like to sun in the spring. It resulted in a drastic drop in the number of rattlesnakes for several years. They are now beginning to make a come back but many no longer rattle.

>>I quoted the old adage: "Mr. Rattlesnake is a gentleman. He generally warns you before he strikes."

You didn't read the quote very carefully. The operative word is "generally". Rattlesnakes do not always rattle before they strike. That is a myth.

I have seen one rattlesnakes in the wild. It did not rattle.

I have lived in Lower Alabama since 59.

I haven't really noticed a change in behavior. I'm in Central Florida, and out of the ones I see, some rattle and some don't. Since humans are encroaching on their territory, they may just be getting more used to seeing people. :)

i have a bunch of kin in texas, and most of them are farmers. an uncle told me last year he was working on a wind rower for 20 minutes before he looked down and saw the rattlesnake under it. said he had never been that close to one without it rattling. so most of them believe they are more hesitant to rattle. they also believe that once they are discovered, they rattle as much as they ever did.

The last three in our camp didn't rattle till I pulled them out of the grass to smash their heads in . I would have let them be but like I said they were in our hunting camp and besides us there are kids there .

Edit: I forgot to say this is in Central Texas about 60 miles west of Waco . Jonesboro, northeast of Gatesville is where our lease was .

Rattle snakes don't always rattle before they strike.

Dang, Kinney, 60 miles west of Waco is out in the middle of nowhere. Where are you, Evant?

Over the last few years, I have killed 5 rattlesnakes. None of them rattled. For whatever reason, I do not know.

* Yes some will, and some won't rattle before striking.* It all depends, and it's all up to each individual rattlesnake.*...