Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is a species of venomous pit viper in the family Viperidae. The species is indigenous to the Southeastern United States. Its range extends across North Carolina down through the Florida Keys, and west to Louisiana and Alabama, inhabiting a range of environments including upland dry pine forests, coastal flatwoods, and sandy mixed woodlands. People often find this snake in overgrown fields and abandoned farms, and this snake also likes to venture into swampy habitats. This species is both a proficient ground dweller and an adept swimmer, occasionally observed crossing water bodies between barrier islands and the mainland.

Known for its formidable size and unique markings, it is the heaviest venomous snake in the Americas. The average weight is around 10 pounds and is anywhere from 3-6 feet in length and can live up to 15 years in the wild. One of the eastern diamondback’s most distinctive features is its diamond-shaped scale pattern along its back. These dark brown or black diamond shapes are surrounded by lighter brownish, brownish-yellow or even olive scales. At the front of its large triangular shaped head, this snake has vertical elliptical pupils (a defining characteristic of most venomous snakes). At the end of their tail, eastern diamondbacks have a rattle that they shake to warn predators or humans if threatened. The sound is unmistakable.  If you hear a rattle sound, freeze and try to locate the snake. Remaining motionless reduces the threat you pose to the snake, which decreases chances of a strike. Once you assess the situation, establish a safe escape.

Diamondbacks eat small mammals and birds. To do so, they sit-and-wait, waiting in disguise beside logs, large vegetation or palmettos for prey to come along. Rattlesnakes locate prey by scent, as well as by sensing the infrared waves, or heat, given off by a warm-blooded animal. Once a rattlesnake strikes, it releases venom through its fangs, then releases the prey, letting it crawl away to die. The rattlesnake will retrieve its prey.

In general, these snakes avoid predators by using their rattle as a warning system and by staying under cover and camouflaged. Their predators include birds of prey (hawks and eagles), other snakes and mammals. As with all snakes, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake only attacks when it feels threatened. Rattlesnakes can strike to a distance of up to half their body length. A good rule of thumb is to put at least five feet between yourself and the snake. Keep your dog on a 6-foot leash and avoid letting it walk in the grass along trails. Be especially aware of rattlesnakes around dusk, when snakes become active hunting.

How to avoid a rattlesnake bite

• Wear sturdy, high-top leather boots to protect the ankle area, where most bites occur.
• Wear snake gaiters to help protect lower legs.
  
• Stay on trails and watch where you place feet and hands, especially around logs and rocks and tall grass.
• Do not recreate with headphones or earbuds because you might not hear a warning rattle sound.    
• Do not try to catch, kill, provoke or move a rattlesnake.

The venom of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake is highly potent and can be fatal if not treated promptly. Untreated eastern diamondback rattlesnake bites have a fatality rate of 10 to 20 percent. About 25% of rattlesnake bites are "dry bites," meaning no venom was injected. But don't count on that!    

What to do if bitten by a rattlesnake    

• Seek medical attention as quickly as possible, any way possible, if bitten.
• Stay calm.
• If hiking alone and help will take hours to reach you, it is a better option to slowly hike to the nearest trailhead or where you have cell reception and call 911. Report your location, when you were bitten and list of symptoms.
• Remove jewelry and tight clothing before you start to swell.
• If possible, clean the wound with soap and water. Cover it with a clean, dry dressing but don't put any pressure on the wound site.
• Symptoms of a venomous snakebite can include puncture marks, redness, swelling, bruising, bleeding or blistering around the bite, severe pain and tenderness at the site of the bite, nausea and vomiting, labored breathing, rapid heart rate, weak pulse, low blood pressure, and disturbed vision.
• For pets, contact your veterinarian or veterinary emergency hospital as quickly as possible.