How many years do rattlesnakes live?

How many years do rattlesnakes live?

A rattlesnake’s typical lifespan is 10 to 25 years. Most species are stable, but one species and one subspecies are federally listed as threatened. Rattlesnakes are vulnerable to being killed by those who view them as dangerous pests rather than important predators.

How can you tell how old a rattlesnake is?

You can tell how old a rattlesnake is by the number of segments on its rattle. Rattlesnakes get a new segment each time they shed their skin. Unlike the rest of the skin, the section that covers the very end of the rattle doesn’t fall off. Because of its grooved shape, it doesn’t release from the new segment.

How big can rattlesnakes get?

one to eight feet
Rattlesnakes can range from one to eight feet, depending on the species (the big one is the eastern diamondback), according to the National Wildlife Federation. They are thick-bodied snakes with keeled (ridged) scales in a variety of colors and patterns.

Can you age a rattlesnake by its rattles?

Counting the Rattles Unless you know when the snake hatched, you can’t determine the exact age of a rattlesnake, but you can count the rattles to figure a rough estimate as to how old the snake is. On average, you can estimate the snake added two or three rattles for each year of his life.

How long is the longest rattlesnake recorded?

Description: The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest of the 32 species of rattlesnake currently recognized. They are large, heavy-bodied snakes with large, broad heads with two light lines on the face. Adults are usually 33-72 in (84-183 cm) long, but the largest individual on record was 96 in (244 cm).

Do rattlesnakes lose their rattles every year?

For most snakes, that’s that. But for rattlesnakes, each time an old skin is shed, a new rattle is added. If rattlesnakes always shed their skin once, and only once, a year, you might actually be able to tell how old a rattlesnake was by counting the rattles, but they don’t.

Is a rattlesnake smart?

Lab experiments show that a snake can tell who has been bitten by whom. All of this for just one meal. So, you see, rattlesnakes have to be extremely intelligent and accurate decision makers. When you think about all that they are able to do, it puts our own human “talents” to shame.

The only accurate way to determine the age of a rattlesnake is by observation. Only by observing the birth and growth of rattlesnakes can you tell the exact age of a specific snake, but you can sometimes determine the approximate age range of some rattlesnake species by size or color.

Can you tell the age of a rattlesnake by its tail?

One widely held belief is that you can tell the age of a Rattlesnake by counting the buttons or rattles on its tail. Each time the snake sheds it leaves a piece of the skin behind creating or adding to the rattle. A young rattlesnake with plenty of food available may shed as often as every six weeks!

How long is the gestation of a rattlesnake?

During breeding season in the spring, the male rattlesnakes will compete for the females by “wrestling” each other. The gestation period lasts for about 167 days and the mother will then give birth to a brood of about 14. The young rattlesnakes are fully developed when born, and thus already have a venomous bite.

How many babies can a rattlesnake have at once?

A rattlesnake can give birth to more than 20 babies and one of the species named diamondback rattlesnake usually give birth around summer or in the fall. Before the mother gives birth, they would gather plenty of food such as frogs, rats, and other reptiles to feed their newborns.