What distance does a rattle snake know I’m near (when I’m hiking)?

Answer 1

Rattlesnakes, like most snake species, have poor eyesight. If you pay attention to where you are walking, you are likely to spot one before it spots you (say, about ten feet). RS's are pit vipers, named because of pits that look like large nostrils that are located just behind and under the actual nostrils (not because they live in pits). The pits are heat sensors which are used primarily for hunting prey, but can also be used to sense the heat of any warm blooded animal (predators or people). Again, if you are aware of where you are walking you would probably see the snake first. Snakes generally pick up scents while flicking their tongues and delivering the scent to the olfactory cavities inside the mouth. The nostrils are generally used for breathing (especially while eating). Snakes can pick up ground vibrations (the entire belly can sense this) and this is by far the first indicator that something large is approaching, and as a result will usually crawl into hiding, and all the better for the snake if it is out basking in the open and not coiled up in a cool place under bushes and rocks. Horses, deer, goats, and all sorts of hooved animals (non-predators) will stomp a snake to death. Looks like they are dancing on the snake. Here is your biggest problem, when snakes sleep all of the senses mentioned above will almost completely shut down (i.e. the tongue will not flick, and you must keep your awareness vigilant to avoid stepping on sleeping snakes. Snakes do not close their eyes while sleeping (no eyelids) and you could walk right up on a sleeping snake. The good thing is they don't sleep in open places like paths, roads, or open ground, and if a snake is stretched out in the open, it is awake. RS's do not always shake their tails. The two reasons for this is when a snake is sleeping and unaware of an approacher, or when it is positioning itself for striking, it will stop rattlling or not rattle at all. This is to gain leverage for an accurate strike (they can't do both at the same time). Another thing to point out is that all snakes are deaf (no ears). So, they won't hear you coming. RS's, like most snakes, want nothing to do with human or other larger animals and they will generally crawl away and hide before they stand ground. About 99% of snake bites are because people weren't watching where they were walking or or they reached down to pick something up without looking carefully. The less than 1% are results of inexperienced snake handlers trying to catch rattlesnakes. One more thing, if you come across a rattlesnake, stand very still for a moment, and watch for the flicking tongue or signs of movement. When you do begin to retreat, take very slow steps backwards until you are a good ten feet away. Then you can observe the snake or get out of there. Don't worry, the snake will not chase you, this is an extreme misconception and even if it did, you could outrun it it in a flash. Sometimes snakes panic and try to flee, but they crawl in the direction that seems the safest way out of danger. It has already sensed the danger but is not always sure of where the danger is coming from. Its best not to be between the snake and the nearest clump of bushes, rocks, or other safe place that the snake may be quite familar with. Caution and awareness are your best avoidance measures.

Answer 2

A rattlesnake will hide from you if it gets the chance. Hikers usually have rattlesnake encounters from things like turning over rocks or stepping on brush off of the trail. If you're worried about snakes wanting to attack you while you're hiking, relax...they don't want to get any closer to you than you do to them.

Answer 3

they can know anyhow, the closer you get to them, they will start shaking there Rattle Tale.....if you hear, back up