Timber Rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus

Classification

Conservation Status

  • Timber rattlesnakes are one of three species of venomous snakes found in the Cumberland River Basin. The other two are the Copperhead and the Cottonmouth. A bite from a Timber Rattlesnake can kill, but the snake is not aggressive and bites are rare. 
  • Timber rattlesnakes are found in dense forests and rocky outcrops. 
  • Lyme disease is less common in areas with rattlesnakes, where the snakes effectively limit rodent populations that carry the disease. 
  • Rattlesnake venom has a variety of medical uses. It is used to prevent blood clots, in blood pressure medicine, and to treat breast cancer.