Baby rattlesnake season is coming to MS. Here’s when & what to know
Rattlesnake season is here. While you may come across adult rattlesnakes now, baby rattlesnakes will make their debut soon.
Here’s what Mississippi residents should know.
When will we see more baby rattlesnakes?
According to the Mississippi State Extension Service, mating season is late summer to early fall, which means most baby rattlesnakes are born primarily in the early fall season.
How do baby rattlesnakes look?
In Mississippi, there are three types of rattlesnakes and all are venomous: the eastern diamond-back rattlesnake, the timber rattlesnake and the pygmy rattlesnake. But how can you tell the difference between adult rattlesnakes and baby ones?
Short answer: they will be much smaller and not as long.
While timber rattlesnakes can grow up to five feet, baby ones may only be a foot long.
Similarly, pygmy rattlesnakes can grow up to 21 inches long, but babies will be only about five inches long at birth.
Do baby rattlesnakes have rattles?
Baby rattlesnakes don’t have rattles, or at least, not one that you’ll hear at first.
“A baby rattlesnake will be born venomous, but with only a little button at the end of its tail where the rest of the rattle will grow. They add a segment with each shedding of their skin, up to anywhere from eight to 13 segments,” according to A-Z Animals.
Will baby rattlesnakes bite?
Yes, but their bite is not as dangerous as adult rattlesnake bites.
“Contrary to popular belief, the bite of a baby rattlesnake is almost always far less serious than the bite of a larger adult rattlesnake. The notion that baby rattlesnakes cannot control the quantity of venom injected is a myth that has been disproven multiple times through well-designed studies,” according to the Snakebite Foundation.
Instead, the seriousness of the bite mostly depends on your own biology and medical history.
If you find a baby rattlesnake in your yard, what should you do?
Experts at Rattlesnake Solutions said to do the following:
Have a professional rattlesnake prevention specialist come inspect the property to find signs of baby rattlesnakes and identify attractive features.
Remove as many attractive features as possible. Start with the easy stuff you can do in just a few hours, then move on to larger and more complicated items.
Cut bushes back from walls and use a garden hose to flood any rodent burrows you find, especially near the house.
If you have a garage door, contact a garage door company and make sure the seal at the base of your garage door is sealed up properly.
Do you have more questions about snakes? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com.
