Common Name: 
Canebrake rattlesnake

Scientific Name: 
Crotalus horridus

Identification: 25-70 in; Light tan or beige 
above, with dark brown crossbands and a 
reddish stripe down the middle of the back; 
brown band from eye to angle of mouth; tail 
dark gray or black; the head is triangle-
shaped with vertically elliptic pupils and a 
loreal pit located between each eye and 
nostril; scales keeled.

Habits: Canebrake rattlesnakes inhabit wooded and forested areas, preferring hardwoods. They tend to lie in a resting coil near the base of trees or near logs. They feed on wood rats and squirrels.
Distribution: Most of Louisiana except the coastal marshes. There are few records west of the Red River and Atchafalaya Basin.
Comments: The name "canebrake" is derived from the snakes's habit of frequenting cane thickets in some areas of the southern states. Also known as the timber rattlesnake. Danger: Venomous!! Even though this rattlesnake has a somewhat more relaxed disposition than the eastern diamondback, and will not always rattle when approached, it is still dangerous. It tends to flee rather than stand its ground.