Rattlesnakes are some of the most well-known groups of snakes in North America. These snakes spend most of their time on the ground, but do they climb trees?
Rattlesnakes can and do climb low trees or shrubs for various reasons, such as searching for prey, thermoregulation, avoiding predators on the ground, or simply to explore.
These snakes are not very strong climbers like many other species (such as rat snakes), but they are still capable of climbing.
Generally, rattlesnakes best climb short trees with angled branches, in areas with lots of vegetation (such as vines and branches), which they can use as footholds.
They typically don’t go very high off the ground.
Rattlesnakes Occasionally Climb Trees & Shrubs
Rattlesnakes have a wide distribution and can be found in various environments, ranging from wetlands to forests and dry regions.
For this reason, these snakes have adapted to effectively move through a wide variety of habitats.
Rattlesnakes can swim, move across grassy plains, and sand, and even climb short trees and shrubs, with relative ease.
As earlier mentioned, rattlesnakes are not strong climbers, but they can still make their way up angled trees with surprising agility – especially in areas with dense vegetation to provide support.
How Rattlesnakes Climb Trees
Like many snakes, rattlesnakes use their flexible, muscular bodies, and rough scales to grip tree bark and branches.
To move upwards, rattlesnakes use a method called ‘concertina locomotion‘, where they grip the surface with side-to-side S-shaped bends, and pull themselves along.
When climbing narrow tree trunks, a rattlesnake may wrap its body in a coiled fashion, to gain extra traction.
This helps the snake to inch its way up in a very similar way to how a person climbs a rope.
All snakes rely on surface friction to climb, so rattlesnakes can only climb trees with rough bark that they can grip with ease.
In general, rattlesnakes best climb angled trees with rough bark, in areas with lots of dense vegetation (such as vines or shrubs).
The vegetation offers footholds and support, enabling the snake to move without having to rely on smooth, vertical tree trunks.
5 Reasons Why Rattlesnakes Climb Trees
There are several reasons rattlesnakes may climb trees. They may be searching for a meal, basking in the sun, or just exploring their environment.
Here are 5 reasons why copperhead snakes climb trees:
1. Finding Food
All snakes are obligate carnivores. Trees provide an abundance of prey for hungry rattlesnakes searching for a meal.
Rattlesnakes can feed on lizards, frogs, small mammals, and even birds (and their eggs) in the trees.
They are not picky eaters and will eat almost any prey they can catch and swallow whole (snakes do not chew their food).
These snakes use their sense of smell, as well as their vision to detect and hunt for prey.
2. Predator Avoidance
Rattlesnakes are preyed on by coyotes, hawks, eagles, and even other snakes such as Kingsnakes.
For this reason, these snakes developed several ways to defend themselves.
As a first line of defense, most rattlesnakes will remain motionless, and rely on their camouflage to blend into their environment.
Their coloration makes them hard to see in thick vegetation.
However, when they are spotted by a predator, these snakes will attempt to escape.
Climbing into trees can also help rattlesnakes avoid predators on the ground.
Rattlesnakes only strike as a last resort, when they feel they are in immediate danger and have no other choice.
Their bites are venomous and can be serious.
3. Thermoregulation
Like all reptiles, rattlesnakes are cold-blooded (ectothermic) animals.
This means they cannot internally regulate their body temperature. Instead, their body temperature changes with the temperature in their surroundings.
In other words, their environment is the main influence on their body temperature.
As the temperature changes at different times of day and night, rattlesnakes move around in their environment to regulate their body heat. This is known as “behavioral thermoregulation.”
When their body temperature is low, they move into the sun to warm up, when it is high, they move to the shade to cool down.
Rattlesnakes often climb into trees to warm up and bask in the sunlight.
During the daylight hours, ambient temperatures are generally higher on the ground than in trees.
However, this occasionally reverses, such as when the ground is cooled by a light rain – and rattlesnakes may climb trees to get warmer temperatures.
4. Avoiding Dangers on the Ground
Sometimes rattlesnakes climb trees to avoid various dangers on the ground.
For example, during heavy rain, rattlesnakes may climb trees to avoid rising water levels.
Although rattlesnakes can swim, they generally prefer solid ground and avoid flood waters.
Apart from floods, rattlesnakes can also climb trees to avoid small fires on the ground.
5. Exploring Their Environment
Climbing trees is an efficient way for rattlesnakes to move around in a complex environment, as they explore.
Often, rattlesnakes will climb trees simply to move across different areas of their habitat.
Rattlesnakes won’t Fall Onto You From Trees
Although rattlesnakes often climb into trees, you don’t have to worry about them snakes onto you, from trees.
The vast majority of venomous snake bites in the US happen when a snake is accidentally stepped on – or when people have already seen a snake, but try to interact with it rather than just moving away.
While a rattlesnake might slip from a branch if startled by the presence of a human, it is not an intentional ambush tactic – and it’s very unlikely that the snake will land directly on a person.
The idea of venomous rattlesnakes dropping out of trees onto unsuspecting hikers to attack is nothing other than a myth.
There is no evidence to suggest snakes intentionally drop from trees to attack or land on people.
If you are in an area where rattlesnakes are common, keep your eyes on the ground, not the branches above.
Conclusion
Rattlesnakes can climb trees and often do so to bask in the sun, find food, and escape predators, among other reasons.
Although rattlesnakes are strong climbers, snakes in general are highly adaptable and more agile than most people think.
Nearly all snakes can climb trees to some extent when the need arises.
Featured image credit: dhandler1968 (CC BY-NC 4.0)