Timber Rattlesnake, Canebrake Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus

Fairly common in the mountains and coastal plain in NC (fairly rare to absent in the piedmont), this snake is always a treat to find!
Timber (Canebrake) Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

Harry LeGrand and I found this bad boy (girl?) in the middle of the road near Lake Phelps in Pettigrew State Park while conducting a butterfly survey. Recent studies suggest that Timber Rattlesnakes and Canebrake Rattlesnakes are taxonomically the same, i.e. they are not separate subspecies as was previously reported.

Washington Co., NC
21 June 2003
Timber (Canebrake) Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

This snake saw me before I saw it and started rattling when I stepped about 3 feet from it. It then immediately retreated down into this hiding spot, where we could see only a couple of coils of its body.

Dare Co., NC
16 Sep 2006

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Created on ... June 23, 2003 | Updated on ... Sep 17, 2006 | jspippen@duke.edu