Determining age of rattle snakes?

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Greybeard

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Is counting the "buttons" an accurate method? Any credible sources out there that actually say "one per year"?

The rattlesnake I shot a month or so ago had 17 "buttons" plus a bead on the end. The "button count" on mine (5 to 5 1/2 feet) was greater than any I saw on any snake mounts at the recent Dallas Market Hall gun show. But several of those snakes (none with more than 14 buttons) were much larger than mine. Habitat a factor, I'm sure, but how is accurate age actually determined?
 
A rattlesnake adds a rattle each time it sheds its skin. This occurs some two to three times a year as it grows. I assume it's more frequent in the early years as opposed to after maturity.

And that's about all I know about rattles and age of the snake.

:), Art
 
Art's right, but one thing to remember is that sometimes (often) the rattles break off. So counting rattles isn't too accurate. I imagine there's some magic formula for snake age calculation where you plug in the type, location, and size, and get an age range. I've never seen such a thing, though. My best friend works for the TPWD, I'll have to ask him if he has.

James
 
Thanks guys for the prompt "answers", some good, some bad and some ugly ...

Sorry, can't look at the teeth, but next time out there, I'll ask the buzzards if they happened to check ...

I did cut off the rattler tho and pinned it to the office wall.
 
If you have a red ant bed anywhere near, just put the head on it. In a day or two, you'll have a nicely cleaned skull.

Makes a great conversation piece on your office desk :D Funny. My boss never would sit very close to my desk. Didn't come around all that often, either.

Art
 
No way to tell for sure. Mine shed from two to three times a year.
I have one dusky pigmy that has fifteen and is about four years old, and one that has about ten, and is six. Wild snakes don't realy get to eat like mine, so they'll grow a little slower. just an observation from someone that actually likes them :)
 
The Burnham Bros. gunstore in Marble Falls, TX, had a window display of a dozen or so lengthy, fat rattlers. A sign in the window said, "We turn them loose on the floor, at night."

No burglary problem.

:), Art
 
There are a number of excellent books on rattlesnakes, and I have several. I have never seen a means stated that would determine age. Most do caution that the number of rattles isn't accurate for that purpose.

I suggest that you call the Supervisor of Reptiles at a couple of major zoos. Denton is close enough to Dallas and Ft. Worth, and both zoos have fine reptile houses. The info operator can give you the phone numbers, or the library may be able to provide addresses, should you choose to write, which might be the better course.

Let us know if you learn anything. Good question.

By the way, there are about 62 species, and a number of sub-species, of rattlesnakes, not all in the USA.

Lone Star
 
Art

Yup, I did the same thing with a snapper skull. Uglest thing on the plante a snapper is. Red Ants work the best on antlers too. Wait? Ants, Antlers, hmmmm.

By the way, there are about 43 species, and a number of sub-species, of Sparrows, not all in the USA.

My little factoid of the day too :neener:
 
Lone Star - Thanks for the suggestion(s). Maybe one of these days I'll do a little more diggin'. No biggie. Got lots of other "priority projects" for now. Heck, I've got a hardback book that a friend loaned me over two weeks ago laying here just lookin' at me! I've not even had (or made) time to start it: "American Soldier" by General Tommy Franks, who I understand grew up in rattlesnake country - Midland TX.
 
If you have a red ant bed anywhere near, just put the head on it. In a day or two, you'll have a nicely cleaned skull.
Click to expand...

I've never shot a rattler (in fact, outside of the zoo I've never seen one (though I did HEAR one while hiking in Glen Canyon a couple of years ago, but I couldn't find it)) but imagine that there wouldn't be a whole lot of head left to display after blowing it off.

How exactly do you shoot a rattler and save the head if your not shooting its head off?
 
I don't think there is a reliable way to determine the age of a rattlesnake. As mentioned before, they gain a rattle each time they shed skin. They shed skin as they grow. They grow faster when they eat more and they, being reptiles, never quit growing. In warmer climates, their metabolism is faster and they will eat more if it's available. By the same token in cold weather they may not eat for months (see winter).

Two snakes of equal size could have quite different ages if one was from South Texas (warm) and the other from Northern Colorado (cool).

(Sorry, the science teacher came out.)
 
Most of the ones I've seen were as old as they were ever going to get.

Be advised that snakes CAN bite you after they are "dead". Even the cut off head can bite if you let it reach you. Snakes have a very primitive nervous system, and respond to stimulus for up to a couple of hours after being "dead". I ALWAYS stand on the head and cut the head off and bury it immediately upon killing them.

I've even had headless snakes snap around and strike with their stump at me when I touched them.
 
Couldn't find a date stamp, it only said 'made in China'.
Click to expand...
Oh how you could you say such athing about an American classic like the rattler??? They are American made 100% (of course this also includes Central and South America). :)
 
Snakes like many reptiles grow until they die. So a larger snake would be an older snake..??

Hell I don't know.
 
Mentor to me when I was young " do not step onto a log, or rest your foot on a log/ rock out here, this is a rattlesnake infested area"

About 15 minutes later I stop to take a compass reading - with my foot on top of a log...I knew I screwed up when I did it...I heard rattles, and some seasoned mentor telling me if I get bit he was gonna shoot ME.

Longest 3 minutes of my life, staying frozen and trying not to do anything to get bit.

Snake slithered away - finally, and I unholstered a 1911, well Mr.Rattler decided to head back my way...

Have no idea how many rattles that one had, I went to slide lock :D

They taste great...hard to fully enjoy when getting fussed at for putting foot on log, going to slide lock, messing up rattles, skin, meat...

I have enjoyed a healthy respect for Rattlesnakes and Logs ever since...age 12 was a tough year for me...
 
Since we're telling rattlesnake stories...

Quite a few years ago, maybe fifteen or so... It was Fathers Day, the wife was busy, as were the kids. I decided to take my day and do a little fishing.

I went to the top of the Pueblo reservoir, where the Arkansas River comes in. Rigged up and fished upstream for a while. I was approaching this bunch of trees when I hear a "Bzzzzzzzz". What kind of bug is that? Looked down and about four feet in front of me was a very upset rattler. I'm standing there armed with a fishing pole, wearing tennis shoes, 1/2 mile from my truck, and nobody knows where I am.

Backed out of there quick!

That was the last time I went fishing unarmed, and the last time I wore tennis shoes, period. Also, the last time I took off without someone knowing where I was.
 
The absolute best anti-snake weapon is a garden hoe.

I generally try to shoot the center of the body so as not to mess up the skull. I've noticed that half-snakes don't move very well. Really slow...

Easy enough just to hold his neck down with your boot and grasp the head between thumb and forefinger. They don't have any strength for opening their mouths, same-o same-o as a gator.

If you're really mean, cruel and nasty, just sew a rattler's mouth shut and put the critter in your boss's desk drawer. Guaranteed to create excitement. Good way to create room at the bar at happy hour, for that matter...

:D, Art
 
Art,
Just how does one sew a rattler's mouth shut? And don't say real carefully :D

Just wondering mind you...you just brought up a wonderful ...err...idea.

Question: Will a rattler eat a glass egg?

I know chicken snakes and such will, and I know the only way to get the glass egg back...garden hoe works. :eek: :)
 
Quote: "put the critter in your boss's desk drawer"

Ya failed to mention that in the post above. Now we know why he stayed away from YOUR desk.

Same trip that I killed the rattler, other guys had confirmed kills on 3 water mocs. One of 'em had an egg-shaped bulge about 1/3 of the way down. When cut open, there was a pair of 3" to 4" channel cat ...
 
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