The Tree Climbing Rattlesnake

[Georgia]

Seems like my Canebrake Silas likes to climb trees lol.

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j424/georgiagrower/Mobile%20Uploads/WP_20150925_01_38_49_Pro.jpg (http://s1085.photobucket.com/user/georgiagrower/media/Mobile%20Uploads/WP_20150925_01_38_49_Pro.jpg.html)

[dave himself]

I thought rattlers were strictly ground dwelling?. But then again I know next to nothing about them

[Bandit]

I've heard stories of wild canebrakes climbing trees. I've never seen it happen though.

[SnoopySnake]

We have to remember that the height that we normally give these snakes in captivity isn't much compared to the wild. Climbing a 2-3ft branch in a viv would be relatively similar to exploring normal terrain for these guys. Very cool, regardless.

[jjhill001]

Think about a fallen tree that a snake would live in. There is anywhere from 4-9 ft of vertical space for that snake to inhabit regardless of whether it is terrestrial or not.

[Georgia]

I thought it was a cool picture....glad you all enjoyed it.

[reptiledude987]

Does he usually spend most of his time on the ground? Was he looking for a meal?

[SSSSnakes]

My Timber Rattlesnakes love to climb on branches in their enclosure.

[Georgia]

He's all over the place lol. Sometimes he's on the branches other times he's on the ground.

[Venomhunter]

Nice shot, What a stunning snake!
What's the temprament of these guys like?

[Georgia]

Depends on the snake. Like all snakes, the temperament differs from snake to snake.

[Georgia]

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j424/georgiagrower/Mobile%20Uploads/WP_20150925_21_39_41_Pro.jpg (http://s1085.photobucket.com/user/georgiagrower/media/Mobile%20Uploads/WP_20150925_21_39_41_Pro.jpg.html)

[jjhill001]

That is a great picture.

[Georgia]

Thanks jjhill

[pet_snake_78]

I think part of it is when people are looking for timbers they are checking rock crevices, downed trees, etc, rather than looking up. At least that's how I do it. They are easy to find in rock crevices in the summer (there were no communal dens where I searched for them, too far south, max we ever had in one den was 4-5 snakes). Having said that, I've probably seen more than a hundred in the wild and never noticed one in a tree which makes me wonder how many I walked past up in them lol

[pet_snake_78]

Forgot to add, they also like tall grass. In MO, we found lots at the base of hillsides in prairies. I think because the grass hides them and the food is plentiful, in MO you don't see the chipmunks as populas as out east although they still eat them there, too.

[David VB]

We have to remember that the height that we normally give these snakes in captivity isn't much compared to the wild. Climbing a 2-3ft branch in a viv would be relatively similar to exploring normal terrain for these guys. Very cool, regardless.

Amen! And this goes for all snake species imho... When i see cages of 2feet high for burmese pythons for example, that makes me cry... Ofcourse they don't climb then, they can't !!!