05/27/2026
"Rattlesnakes are also among the most reasonable forms of dangerous wildlife: their first line of defense is to remain motionless; if you surprise them or cut off their retreat, they offer an audio warning; if you get too close, they head for cover. Venom is intended for prey so they're reluctant to bite, and 25 to 50 percent of all bites are dry, meaning that no venom is injected."
Leslie Anthony, 'Snakebit: Confessions of a Herpetologist'
Photo: Northern Black-tailed rattlesnake Β© Jack Goldfarb