The Diamondback's Remarkable Strike

An Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake strikes at prey only when it senses that it can make a kill. It strikes at a predator only when it feels extremely threatened. This contrasts with certain other snakes, such as the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake or the Water Moccasin, which often strie repeatedly with minimal provocation. The Eastern Diamondback usually needs to strike only once to achieve its objective.

How fast can a rattlesnake strike? Not as fast as lightning (the way the strike is often described), but in any case, the strike is often faster than the human eye can follow. A rattler can strike and recoil in one-quarter of a second.

Upon encountering a Diamondback, it is best to turn and walk away slowly. Running is not wise because it is always possible that there is a second rattler nearby which must be avoided also. They donn't hunt in packs, but what it good habitat for one will be good habitat for others.

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