Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
A heavy-bodied pit viper of eastern North American forests, rocky hillsides, and brushy edges, often using communal dens and basking sites. It is mostly an ambush predator, lying camouflaged among leaf litter until rodents, squirrels, rabbits, birds, or other small animals pass within striking range. When threatened, it usually relies on stillness, retreat, or its buzzing rattle before biting as a last defense. A notable feature is its heat-sensing facial pits, which help locate warm-blooded prey even in low light.
- Type
- Venom / Stealth
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- Timber Rattlesnake Hatchling
- Timber Rattlesnake