Rattlesnakes In Virginia

Virginia, with its varied natural habitats, is home to more than 30 snake species, three of which are venomous. The northern copperhead and eastern cottonmouths are both natives, but only one species of rattlesnake makes its home in the state. The timber rattlesnake, also known as the canebrake, lives in Virginia. Its scientific name, crotalus horridus, translated from Latin means dreadful rattle.

  1. Description

    • Timber rattlesnakes in Virginia grow to between 30 and 60 inches in length, on average, with the largest recorded in the state reaching 67 inches. The largest ever recorded individual measured 74 1/2 inches in length. It is a thick-bodied snake that can range from almost black to tan in color with darker mottled blotches running the length of its body. Like other rattlesnakes, the species has catlike eyes and an arrowhead-shaped head.

    Habitat and Range

    • At one time timber rattlesnakes and canebrakes were considered different subspecies but are now considered the same species. The snake is found throughout much of the state and is commonly called a timber rattler in the north but is known as a canebrake in the southeast. It lives in a range of habitats such as rocky hillsides, swamps and forested areas. Outside Virginia, the snake is found throughout much of the eastern U.S., from New Hampshire to Florida and west to Pennsylvania.

    Diet and Predators

    • The snake hunts using ambush, sitting coiled and often hidden by foliage until a prey animal wanders by. It then strikes, biting the prey and injecting it with a deadly venom, letting the animal die before it swallows it whole. Small mammals such as mice, rats and squirrels as well as birds are the most common prey of the species. It is a deadly predator but is itself eaten by an array of other predators, including black and king snakes, which are immune to its venom. Also coyotes, raccoons and hawks all eat the snakes.

    Life Cycle

    • During the winter the snakes will hibernate in caves with up to 60 other individuals to help stay warm but are solitary for the rest of the year. In the breeding season between July and October, the snakes come together to mate. After mating, pregnancies take around 135 days before the female gives birth to between 1 and 20 live baby snakes. The timber rattlesnake is one of the few rattler species that will stay with the young for any time after birth, generally looking after the babies for a week or so before leaving them to fend for themselves. In the wild, the snakes can live for up to 30 years.