The Diamondback Rattlesnake is a large, impressive, and potentially dangerous snake. It can strike up to 2/3 its body length; a 6-foot (183 cm) specimen may strike 4 feet (122 cm). These factors, as well as others, make this a snake that should be left alone and not molested.
Some people wrongly believe the Diamondback must rattle before striking. This is not true. It can lie silent and motionless, and then strike without the usual nervous buzz from its rattle. In fact, Diamondbacks that rattle are more apt to be heard, seen and killed, and Diamondbacks that remain silent are more apt to go undiscovered and pass on their genes to the next generation. In this way, we inadvertently are selecting for rattlers that do not rattle.
