The Rattlesnake

Have you ever heard the rattle of a rattlesnake? In the wild, it can be one of the scariest sounds around. The rattlesnake is venomous, which means it is poisonous. A rattlesnake has something that sounds like a rattle at the end of its body. The rattle is an organ made up of loosely-attached pieces of horn. When rattled, the pieces of horn bounce against each other, making the rattle sound. The body of a rattlesnake is grayish or brownish gray with darker circular blotches along its back and sides. The underside of the rattlesnake is a creamish color.

The rattle on a rattlesnake is used to warn an intruder that the snake is there. A rattlesnake usually bites a person when someone tries to catch, kill, or harm it. When a rattlesnake bites a person, he or she should be treated with anti-venom, which fights the poison in the body. Most people do not die when a rattlesnake has bitten them. But when people are bitten by a rattlesnake, they should receive immediate medical attention.

What does a rattlesnake eat? A rattlesnake doesn’t want to eat a human when and if it bites one; it is only trying to defend itself. Rattlesnakes eat rodents. This helps control the rodent population. Rattlesnakes need rodents and a place to hide in order to survive. Rattlesnakes stay in the same general area, but they will not fight other rattlesnakes.