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These animals produce one of nature’s most fear-inducing sounds.
A member of the pit viper family, the rattlesnake has a thick body, a distinctive triangular
head and vertical pupils, like cat’s eyes.
Their ridged scales come in a variety of patterns and colors, depending on the species.
There are currently 36 known rattlesnake species.
The largest of them and the largest venomous snake in North America is the eastern diamondback,
which can reach lengths of up to 8 feet.
The rattle is made up of hollow, interlocking keratin segments and it’s located at the
tip of the tail.
Every time the snake sheds its skin, another segment is added to the rattle.
When the snake holds its tail up vertically and vibrates it rapidly, it causes the keratin
segments to knock into each other.
This creates the infamous ‘shaker’ sound.
It’s considered to be a highly developed warning mechanism for potential predators.
The muscles that sustain the rattle sound produce some of the fastest twitches in the
animal kingdom, firing 50 times per second, for up to three hours.
Rattlesnakes are fascinating creatures, but they can also be very dangerous.
They’re the leading cause of snakebite injuries in North America and a major contender for
the same position in Central and South America.
Number 5 Victor Pratt Snake handling has been present from street
performances to daredevil acts and religious cults.
However, even those experienced in working with snakes are sometimes faced with how dangerous
they can be.
48-year-old Victor Pratt had been catching snakes since he was a teenager.
When a rattlesnake appeared during his child’s birthday party, he took the opportunity to
show off his snake handling ability.
In front of the children present at the party, he picked up the reptile.
As he was putting on a show, Pratt lost his grip on the snake’s head and that’s when
it delivered two venomous bites to his face and neck.
Pratt had been bitten before, when he was 19 years old, so he knew time was of the essence.
He was rushed to the hospital where doctors administered antivenom, thus saving his life.
Bites to the face and neck are particularly dangerous as, aside from internal bleeding,
the swelling can close a person’s airways blocking oxygen to the vital organs.
These adaptable snakes are found throughout North and South America, from southern Alberta
and southern British Columbia, in Canada, to central Argentina.
Their habitats range from regions as low as the sea level to heights of 11,000 feet and
may include desert sands, scrub brush, grasslands or rocky hills.
Rattlesnake diets mainly consist of rats, birds, mice and other small animals.
They’re effective ambush predators but may also actively pursue their prey.
The rattlesnake mainly fills its prey by delivering a venomous bite.
From birth, rattlesnakes have fully functioning fangs and venom and are already capable of
filling prey.
Unlike adult rattlesnakes, the young ones can’t control the amount of venom they inject
with a bite, which, in certain situations, can make them more dangerous.
Number 4 Jeremy Sutcliffe Rattlesnakes aren’t just dangerous while
they’re alive.
As one Texas man learned, they’re equally as deadly after their head’s been chopped
off.
On May 27, 2018, Jeremy Sutcliffe and his wife Jennifer were doing yard work at their
home near Lake Corpus Christi when he found a 4-foot rattlesnake slithering around the
premises and decapitated it with a shovel.
Because a snake’s metabolism is much slower than ours, it’s internal organs stay alive
for longer.
As Sutcliffe bent down to pick up the remains, the severed head plunged its fangs into his
hand, delivering all the venom that was left in the glands.
After she called 911, Jennifer drove her husband 45 miles to hospital.
During the drive, he started having seizures, bleeding internally and losing his vision.
Sutcliffe had to be airlifted the rest of the way.
As they arrived at the hospital, doctors told Jennifer Jeremy might not make it.
Instead of the regular 4 antivenom doses, Sutcliffe, whose hand had already started
developing severe necrosis, needed 26.
Even though his kidneys were still weak, doctors managed to stabilize his condition.
The rattlesnake can strike at two-thirds of its body length and the patterns on its body
provide excellent camouflage.
Its fangs are connected by ducts to large venom glands located towards the rear of the
head.
When the rattlesnake bites, the muscles on the side of the glands contract squeezing
the venom through the ducts and into the fangs, it’s extremely potent and mainly hemotoxic
meaning that it destroys tissue and disrupts blood clotting.
Species like the tiger rattlesnake and the Mojave rattlesnake produce the highest levels
of venom toxicity of all rattlesnakes.
Their venom also has a neurotoxic component which can cause severe paralysis.
A rattlesnake bite can be fatal between six and 48 hours after envenomation.
Survival depends on the time that passes between the bite and treatment.
99% of people treated with antivenom within the first two hours of the bite have survived.
Nevertheless, out of the 7 to 8,000 people bitten in the US each year, there are around
5 fatalities.
Envenomation symptoms include intense pain at the site of the bite, swelling, anxiety,
weakness, nausea and vomiting, hemorrhaging, and ultimately heart failure.
Neurotoxic envenomation can cause skeletal muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing and
speaking, difficulty breathing, vision problems and respiratory failure.
Number 3 Barry Lester In May 2018, Barry Lester, died while celebrating
his 57th birthday, after a rattlesnake bit him in both hands.
Lester, a native of Oklahoma, was driving his pickup truck with his relatives when they
spotted the reptile on the road.
A previous rodeo calf roper, Lester reportedly had experience catching rattlesnakes.
He stopped the truck and went to pick up the snake by the back of the head, as he had done
so many times before.
The venomous reptile twisted its head and bit Lester on his right hand.
He then grabbed the snake with his left hand and that’s when it bit him again.
Lester placed the snake in an empty toolbox on the bed of his pickup truck and was rushed
away to his home where his family had already called an ambulance.
He was taken to a hospital but the venomous bites, enhanced by his pre-existing heart
condition, proved fatal.
Number 2 Daniel Hohs 31-year-old Daniel Hohs was a triathlete and
an avid endurance sport practitioner.
In October 2017, three years after he’d become an Ironman, Hohs was the victim of
a fatal rattlesnake attack.
He was about a mile into the trail at Mt.
Galbraith in Golden, Colorado, when the venomous serpent attacked him.
Witnesses described the snake as being around 4 feet long.
A doctor that was hiking in the area initially tended to Hohs’ bite.
He was later taken to a hospital in Lakewood, where he was pronounced bed.
There are a few precautionary steps to take whenever camping or trekking in rattlesnake
territory.
Wearing appropriate clothing is very important.
Most bites occur at the level of the feet, ankles and hands.
Wear long, loose pants and sturdy hiking boots.
Be mindful of your movements, as some bites have occurred with people accidentally stepping
or sitting on a rattlesnake.
Carry a long, sturdy stick which you can use to examine places where a rattlesnake might
be hiding.
If you do encounter one, back away slowly and don’t engage it.
A rattlesnake will rarely lunge at you if unprovoked.
Its attack is faster than the human eye can catch and a defending snake will most likely
deliver more venom than one that was simply caught off guard.
Even though it can bite from any position rattlesnakes tend to exhibit some typical
behavior before striking.
This includes assuming a coiled position, raising the front end of its body and making
the rattle sound.
There are many myths regarding the DIY treatment of a rattlesnake bite and most are untrue.
Don’t try to luck or cut the venom out and applying a tourniquet does more bad than good.
Don’t apply ice or water to the area either as it doesn’t help to preserve the tissue.
Try not to raise the bitten area above the level of the heart and remain calm.
If you’re alone, getting to a hospital or a place where you can receive professional
help is the number one priority.
Number 1 Todd the Golden Retriever In June 2018, dog owner Paula Goodwin took
her pets on a hike in Anthem, Arizona.
The state is home to the most varied rattlesnake population, with around 13 different species
slithering around.
As Goodwin was enjoying the hike alongside her dogs, she almost stepped on a rattlesnake.
The serpent quickly assumed a coiled position and attempted to lunge at Goodwin.
That’s when Todd, her golden retriever pup, stepped in the way of the attack.
Todd ended up with a serious bite on his snout.
The area around the bite became swollen and even developed slight necrosis.
Fortunately, he received proper treatment in time and was soon heading towards a full
recovery.
Goodwin took to Facebook to praise heroic Todd and her followers flooded her with messages
wishing him a speedy recovery.
Tributes to Todd’s bravery started to circulate on Twitter as well and a GoFundMe account
was set up in his name to help pets similarly afflicted.