 This is the largest rattlesnake
in the world. Sorry, Texas, but the eastern has been recorded
at a foot longer than the western. It is, therefore, at
least potentially, one of the most dangerous animals in North America.
While averaging 3 to 6 feet, they have been known to hit 8 feet
even. Stories of rattlesnakes, both from here in Florida,
and in Texas, of much greater length are extremely difficult to substantiate.
Diamondbacks do have a proclivity toward shrinking as they get closer
to a tape measure. Eyewitness accounts and length estimates are
often very inaccurate, probably due to the amount of adrenaline involved.
If you should hear a rattlesnake, freeze, then
determine exactly where the sound emanates from, then draw a mental
line from that point, through your body, turn around and follow that
line. The animal is letting you know that it is there, frightened
or ticked, and if you continue to press the issue, you could well wind
up with more than you bargained for. Left unmolested, the animal
will not bite, and will eventually crawl off to a less crowded area.
Continuing to remain in the presence of, or worse yet, trying to harm
the snake, makes as much sense as entering a bar that caters to an ethnic
group not your own, and making ethnic slurs directed at that group.
The outcome might well turn out the same, i.e. your hospitalization,
and both instances would have been caused by lack of forethought, if
not stupidity.
The diamondback in Florida is born between
August and November, which is also the breeding season. At birth,
it is from 11" to 16" in length, and possesses enough venom
to deliver a lethal bite to a grown man. Young remain as a group
for several days after birth, and have been known to be protected vigorously
by the mother.
One thing of importance, especially for those
of you in Florida: diamondbacks in the northern part of the state
have a more toxic venom, by far, than do those in the southern part
of the state.
Their prey, strictly warm-blooded animals,
is located with the aid of heat sensitive facial pits. Prey includes
mice and young rats for the juveniles, then larger rats, ground dwelling
birds, and rabbits. They have also been known to actively hunt
squirrels by waiting at the base of a tree, looking up. These
snakes are primarily diurnal (active during the day) or crepuscular
(active at dawn or dusk), and are seldom active at night.
Diamondbacks are found in high, dry areas.
Three types of prime habitat are slash pine/palmetto, longleaf pine/turkey
oak, and sand pine/rosemary scrub. The presence of gopher tortoises(Gopherus
polyphemus) in the area makes the habitat more likely to support
diamondbacks, as they utilize the tortoise burrows as sanctuaries.
The number of segments in the rattle do not
determine the snake's age, as one segment is added at each shedding
of the skin, which can vary from once or twice up to a half dozen times
per year. Also, the rattle consists of a very thin material that
is readily broken. A wet rattle will not make noise. A rattle
of about 2 inches in length will make more noise than one that is considerably
shorter or longer.
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake does not
live in close proximity to man for extended periods of time. When
an area is cleared for construction, the animals either leave or are
slain. Bearing this in mind, the next time you see one of these
impressive, nearly awe inspiring snakes, ask yourself whether it is
in your back yard, or if you are in its. If it is indeed you who
are the trespasser, there's no real need to kill that critter.
They do help to keep rodents and rabbits in check, and they are seldom
a real danger to people
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