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Eastern Diamondback Picture Credited to TimVickers Wikipedia Commons Public Domain

Trying to figure out which is the deadliest snake is difficult. The reason for this is because you have to take into account a number of factors. For example, the coral snake is largely considered to have the most “deadly” venom, but they much more unusual to come across than say a cottonmouth. Also, the coral snake does not have the venom delivery system of the average rattlesnake. They have smaller fangs that are located in the rear of their mouth. While the coral snake can and does bite and deliver venom, it is much harder to do so than a rattlesnake with large fangs that can penetrate boots.

With this in mind, the two snakes that jump out at me are the Western Diamondback and the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnakes. The Mojave rattlesnake would likely be right there with these two if it were a bit more common, and more widespread. They are found in a pretty focused area that is often not inhabited by human beings. This leads to fewer bites, and therefore precludes their being included as one of the deadliest.

The Western Diamondback has no such qualms. They are around plenty of humans and do plenty of biting when compared to the majority of venomous snakes. Their venom is powerful, and they deliver the bite with large fangs that can give a large dose of that deadly venom. Many consider the Western Diamondback to be the deadliest snake in the United States.

For my money, the Eastern Diamondback is about as deadly as they come. This is not only the deadliest snake in America in my opinion, it is also the largest venomous snake as well. They grown big, fat, and can have a nasty disposition when they are bothered. The venom glands are huge on the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, and they are not shy about injecting that venom.

Of all the snakes in America, I call the Eastern Diamondback the deadliest overall. The Western diamondback is a close second, with the Mojave close behind them.

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- The mojave usually has white and black bands on the tail. The white bands tend to be larger than the black. The western also has this pattern, but he bands tend to be the same size.

- The mojave sometimes takes on a greenish tint in color, whereas the western diamondback does not.

- The western diamondback tends to be a good deal larger, but this is misleading because of variance in ages.

- The mojave lacks the banding around the eyes that the western normally has.

- Both species are highly aggressive and bite readily.

- Both species are dangerous particularly in spring, when they arise from hibernation and are hungry.

- The mojave tends to bite first and rattle later. The western diamondback usually will warn the rattle in advance. This is far from one hundred percent, but just a general observation based on case studies.

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Timber Rattlesnake Pattern

The timber rattlesnake, also commonly called the canebrake rattlesnake, is a relatively mild mannered member of the rattlesnake family.  Though they are less likely to jump into a fight, they are still very fierce when cornered.  The timber rattlesnake much prefers staying far away from human contact, and will usually slide away if it has an avenue of escape.

How Dangerous is The Timber Rattlesnake?

The timber rattlesnake, though not inclined to be overly aggressive, is still potentially lethal.  The toxicity of a timber rattlesnake is not usually as lethal as the more volatile eastern and western diamondbacks, but they are still very dangerous rattlesnakes.  Their toxin is generally less destructive to the soft tissues, but can still kill a person if not treated quickly.  The bite of the timber rattlesnake requires immediate medical attention.

Where Do You Find The Timber Rattlesnake?

Timber Rattlesnake Blending In

Generally, the timber rattlesnake is protected and it’s numbers are dwindling due to a loss of habitat.  They do not generally enjoy being near people, and as we encroach further on their habitat, they are finding themselves with no place to go.  The timber rattlesnake can be found as far North as New England, and as far West as Texas.  They are found in the vast majority of the East.  They generally hang out in open fields, woodlands, prairies and grasslands.  When they den, they usually like to do so in rocky areas.

What Does The Timber Rattlesnake Look Like and How Big Do They Get?

The timber rattlesnake is not a very long snake.  It gets to about four feet on average, but can get as big as six feet in length.  They tend to be on the fat side, and can get quite thick if the food is aplenty.  Timber rattlesnakes can be a dark brown, yellow, or gray.  Sometimes they are black.  The timber rattlesnake has a chevron pattern or cross-band pattern.

What Does The Timber Rattlesnake Eat?

Timber rattlesnakes love to eat rats, lizards, other snakes, birds, rabbits and even the occasional frog.  If it is edible and fits in their mouths, they will generally go for it.

Are There Similar Snakes That Look Like The Timber Rattlesnake

Would You Want To Meet This One Up Close?

The timber rattlesnake shares it’s territory with the Eastern Diamondback, but few would mistake them for one another.  The Eastern is generally much larger, but a young Eastern diamondback might be mistaken for a young adult timber rattlesnake to a person that is not familiar.

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Kansas Rattlesnake's New Entry

In Kansas, rattlesnakes are not supposed to get so big and nasty.  In some of the larger state parks, more and more western diamondback rattlesnakes are showing up.  Why is this a big deal?  Primarily because Western Diamondbacks are not native to Kansas.

The Western diamondback rattlesnake is nearly three times the size of the average Kansas rattlesnake.  Kansas rattlesnakes are normally very small.  The Kansas rattlesnakes that are natives are the prarie rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, and the massasauga rattlesnake.  These rattlesnakes usually top out at under three feet in length.

Kansas rattlesnakes are dangerous just like any other kinds of rattlesnakes, but the western diamondback rattlesnake is a whole different ball of wax.  This rattlesnake is much larger at around six to seven feet, and it is known for having a particularly nasty venom.  The Kansas rattlesnake antivenin is not effective for the Western Diamondback bite.  That is one of only a handful of problems the Western showing up in Kansas might cause.

Another problem is the fact that they could throw off the ecosystem.  Anytime you introduce a new species of anything into a new area, you are playing with fire.

It is thought this new introduction to Kansas rattlesnakes is due to rattlesnake wranglers releasing them in the wild.  This could be for breeding purposes, or simply to create a new place to have rattlsnake roundups such as you might find in Texas.  Regardless of how, the Western Diamondback is a seriously dangerous snake.

People in Kansas need to add this species of rattlesnake to their list of things to look out for.  The western diamondback is notorious for being stepped on, and they are quick to bite if surprised or disturbed.  The western diamondback snake bite can be deadly, and Kansas rattlesnake enthusiasts would do well to leave them alone.

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