Hobbies And Interests
Rattlesnakes
Rattlesnakes are usually heard before they are seen. The sound of their rattles has been compared to the rustling of leaves or the sound made by insects at night. The heat-sensitive pits on the sides of the rattlesnake's face enable it to detect changes in temperature from quite a distance. Most snakes are aware of approaching animals and people, and often will move to avoid a confrontation. They generally will not strike unless they feel threatened. If you hear the buzzing of a rattler's tail, stop and try to determine its location. If you move abruptly, you are more likely to alarm the snake and provoke an attack.
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
The eastern massasauga is a rare and diminutive rattlesnake that is 2 to 3 feet long. The snake has dark blotches on its thick, gray body, and a black belly that is covered with yellowish spots. The massasauga dwells in marshes, swamps and bogs and is locally known as a "swamp rattler." It breeds in the spring, and gives birth to its young after a 2-to-4 month gestation period. These rattlesnakes live by eating small mammals, reptiles and young birds. They hunt during the day in the spring and fall, and at night in the summer heat. The massasauga hibernates in moist soil in the winter. While its venom is quite potent, its teeth are too small to inject enough toxin into a bite to deliver a lethal dose, in most cases.
Timber Rattlesnake
The timber rattlesnake can grow to a length of 6 feet, although most timbers are 3 to 4 feet long. Timbers are rather placid snakes that are not aggressive unless disturbed. Timbers are yellow or gray-brown with dark chevron markings. They are also forest-dwellers who seek out sunny, warm spots or rocky hillsides and ledges. Timber rattlesnakes have a very low reproductive rate, as females do not breed until they are at least 5 years old, and then only every 4 years. Of the eight babies born to a timber, maybe two will survive their first year. They feed upon small mammals, rodents, birds and sometimes reptiles, and hibernate with other snake species in the winter.
The Importance of Treatment
Rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal, if you seek medical care promptly. According to the ODNR, symptoms of a rattlesnake bite can range from mild swelling of the bitten area to nausea and weakness to rapid swelling, contracted pupils in the eyes and convulsions. If you are bitten, make sure the affected area is kept above the level of your heart. If the bitten area is an extremity, loosely tie a tourniquet between the bite and the trunk of the body. The number of deaths in the United States from snake bites is quite low; a fatality is almost always due to the failure of the victim to get to a doctor or hospital.