Venom Week! Timber Rattlesnake!

The Timber Rattlesnake is also known as the banded or velvet-tailed rattler. This Species of snake can be found in EVERY county in Tennessee, but their population is not overly abundant, especially in populated areas.

There are two major color patterns for Timber Rattlers they are(1) yellow phase: black or dark brown cross- bands on a ground color of yellow, brown, or gray; the crossbands, which may be V-shaped, break up anteriorly to form a row of darker spots down the back, plus a row along each side of the body and (2) black phase: a heavy stripping of black or very dark brown which hides much of lighter pigment. Completely black specimens are not rare in uplands of the Northeast.

This species has a length of 11 to 96 inches with the average 72 inches.Males grow to larger sizes than females.

Behavior: In the fall, they congregate in considerable numbers near favored den sites *2079,1008* and often hibernate with copperheads and other snakes *882*. The sites are used year after year *1008* and the dens usually have a southern exposure *1100,2079,2075,883,882*. They do not defend a territory *1100*. This species is diurnal in the spring and fall, and nocturnal in hot summers *2079,1014,1023,946*. The preferred habitat is secondary growth timbered terrain where rodents abound *882*. They are also found in rock outcroppings *1100, 2079,2075,883,1013,1008*. In the Central Plains this species may occur in wooded or brushy areas *1013*. Klauber reports that in August there is a trek from dry ridges to valleys for water *1100*. In early November, they congregate in considerable numbers near den sites prior to going into hibernation *1023*. The sites are used year after year and are usually wooded bluffs or hillsides with rock outcroppings containing numerous deep crevices extending well below the frost line *858*. Unlike the communal den characteristic of the timber rattlesnake, canebrakes (subspecies atricaudatus) overwinter singly or in small numbers in the base of hollow trees or in stumps. This species is usually terrestrial but will ascend low shrubs to obtain prey. They are primarily tertiary level predators of small mammals but will consume other vertebrates. They are known to eat rats, mice, cottontail rabbits, six-lined racerunners, skinks and birds. They are not territorial

Individuals are occasionally killed by deer, sheep, dogs, hogs, and red-tailed hawks. Juveniles are known to be eaten by chickens and turkeys

Limiting factors: This species is found in dark soil regions of swamps, canefields, low pine woods, cane breaks, cedar breaks, bay heads, moist woodlands and flood plains, and open areas with little understory. Stumps and logs are preferred. They also inhabit creek bottoms, rocky ridges, overgrown Fields, under the floors of deserted cabins, thickly wooded areas bordering lakes and streams and brushy hollows full of fallen logs and rank weeds. It likes higher ridges that adjoin river. This species is more antagonistic than some forms and will coil and strike when escape would be more pausible.