All Animals

Animal Guide

Timber Rattlesnake

49 destinations · 25 states

Native Range
Eastern and central United States, from New York and New England to Texas and Florida

The timber rattlesnake is a large, heavy-bodied snake that can spend so much time motionless that visitors sometimes walk right past it. Its pattern of dark bands and blotches helps it blend into forest floors, rocky slopes, and fallen leaves. Watch for the subtle movements instead: a tongue flick, a slow shift beneath a log, or the careful positioning of its head while it waits for prey. Timber rattlesnakes are ambush hunters, feeding mainly on small mammals such as mice and squirrels. During cooler months, they may gather in rocky dens, sometimes returning to the same areas year after year. Their rattle is another detail worth noticing. When threatened, the snake can rapidly vibrate the tip of its tail, producing the familiar warning sound before any defensive action is taken. Unlike the fast-moving snakes people sometimes expect, a timber rattlesnake often relies on patience and camouflage. Seeing one calmly resting among rocks or leaves gives visitors a good sense of how easily a large predator can disappear into its surroundings.

Timber Rattlesnake

Where to see Timber Rattlesnake

49 destinations across 25 states

49 destinations

Abilene Zoo

Abilene, TX

Alexandria Zoological Park

Alexandria, LA

Alligator Adventure

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Audubon Zoo

New Orleans, LA

Birmingham Zoo

Birmingham, AL

BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo

Baton Rouge, LA

Caldwell Zoo

Tyler, TX

Cape May County Park & Zoo

Cape May Court House, NJ

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Sanford, FL

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Cincinnati, OH

Clyde Peeling's Reptiland

Allenwood, PA

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Powell, OH

Dallas Zoo

Dallas, TX

Denver Zoo

Denver, CO

Ellen Trout Zoo

Lufkin, TX

Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park

Naubinway, MI

Greenville Zoo

Greenville, SC

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

Fort Walton Beach, FL

Houston Zoo

Houston, TX

Jacksonville Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Jacksonville, FL

Lehigh Valley Zoo

Schnecksville, PA

Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo

Monroe, LA

Louisville Zoo

Louisville, KY

Milwaukee County Zoo

Milwaukee, WI

Museum of Science

Boston, MA

North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

Pine Knoll Shores, NC

North Carolina Zoo

Asheboro, NC

North Georgia Wildlife Park & Safari

Cleveland, GA

Oklahoma City Zoo

Oklahoma City, OK

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

Pittsburgh, PA

Potter Park Zoo

Lansing, MI

Reptile Lagoon

Hamer, SC

Reptile World Serpentarium

St Cloud, FL

Saint Louis Zoo

St. Louis, MO

San Antonio Zoo

San Antonio, TX

San Diego Zoo

San Diego, CA

Sedgwick County Zoo

Wichita, KS

Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Washington, DC

Steinhart Aquarium

San Francisco, CA

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Baltimore, MD

Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

Toledo, OH

Utah's Hogle Zoo

Salt Lake City, UT

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Living Museum

Newport News, VA

Virginia Zoo

Norfolk, VA

Western North Carolina Nature Center

Asheville, NC

Zoo Atlanta

Atlanta, GA

Zoo Knoxville

Knoxville, TN

Zoo New York

Watertown, NY

Your ZooHopper Passport

Turn your wildlife adventures into a Passport

Keep track of the zoos, aquariums, safari parks, and wildlife destinations you've visited—and save the places you want to explore next.

  • Remember every visit
  • Build your wishlist
  • Collect Passport Stamps
  • Share photos & contribute
Create Your Passport

Dan's Passport

Places
12
States
6
Wishlist
9

Passport stamps

Recently visited

  • Bronx ZooBronx, NY
  • Georgia AquariumAtlanta, GA
  • San Diego Zoo Safari ParkEscondido, CA

MY WISHLIST

Monterey Bay AquariumMonterey, CA