Rattlesnakes not rattling?

[Buck-N-Rut]

I've heard a lot of people talk about rattlesnakes not making a sound lately. Then I've heard people say it's because hogs find em and eat em. Opinions. I mean animals adapt to protect themselves. Just wanted some opinions.

[Special K]

Exactly what you said they don't wanna get ate so they hush up.

[ecallarman]

So let me ask a question and no sarcasim intended, how do the rattle bugs learn not to rattle. Seems like they wouldnt get a second chance if they rattled and gotten eaten. So is it just an inherited trait. Maybe when they rattle near a hog the hog becomes aggressive towards the snake but doesnt eat or kill the snake but the snake learns "rattle equals threat"?? Just pondering here

[EarleyBird]

I agree that animals adapt, but I just don't see them having the ability to reason like that. I think they warn potential predators by rattling when they see you first. If they're surprised they just don't have time to send a warning.

I just don't think there's some big "snake conspiracy" to evade hogs or strike more humans!

[Split Arrow]

I agree that animals adapt, but I just don't see them having the ability to reason like that. I think they warn potential predators by rattling when they see you first. If they're surprised they just don't have time to send a warning.

I just don't think there's some big "snake conspiracy" to evade hogs or strike more humans!

Agreed.

[chancito1]

I cant count how many times Ive been right on top of a rattle snake and they never rattled. Im talking well with in striking distance. They were all well concealed and if I wasnt so paranoid and actually watched every step I took I would have stepped on them. I have had far fewer rattle in the 25yrs Ive been in south texas. Most of them, almost all of them sat there quiet.

[schlag77]

agree also but have heard many stories of them not rattlin in the middle of summer where there are tons of hogs. ive grabbed several in the cool fall evenings that are too cold to rattle.

[ecallarman]

agree also but have heard many stories of them not rattlin in the middle of summer where there are tons of hogs. ive grabbed several in the cool fall evenings that are too cold to rattle.

GRABBED!

So if people inadvertantely walk close to a rattle bug and their not rattling are they going to strike? I wonder how they perceive what is/is not a threat?

[cosmiccowboy]

I don't know the how or why but I can tell you I have been dealing with rattlesnakes for almost 50 years.

They DON'T rattle like they used to.

I can't even remember how many (hundreds) of snakes I killed when they rattled at me "back then".

They just don't rattle like they used to. I have killed eight this year at my place and not a single one rattled. I'm not talking about shooting them from 20 feet...I'm talking about killing them with whatever I could grab that was close...a shovel...a short piece of angle iron in the back of my truck....whatever...they KNEW I was there and a threat and never rattled...

As for hogs eating them...I killed one Monday and left him in the road...it rained and there are hog tracks all around the area (within ten feet) and they haven't eaten him yet.

I'm not sure I buy the hog theory.

[150class]

Do a search on here because there was a thread or two last year about this topic

[Buck-N-Rut]

Good discussion. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with any answer. I just wanted to hear what y'all had to say.

[cosmiccowboy]

GRABBED!

So if people inadvertantely walk close to a rattle bug and their not rattling are they going to strike? I wonder how they perceive what is/is not a threat?

Some are just mean. I had a big one hit me on the cuff of my jeans and not make it through my boot that never rattled...He was coiled under a freaking little 2' tall juahia bush right on a trail. I went airborn with a six foot snake snagged in my jeans. He left a grapefruit sized venom spot on my jeans right before he hit the ground and recoiled and a 150 grain ballistic tip @ 3200fps scattered snake junk everywhere.

[panhandlehunter]

So let me ask a question and no sarcasim intended, how do the rattle bugs learn not to rattle. Seems like they wouldnt get a second chance if they rattled and gotten eaten. So is it just an inherited trait. Maybe when they rattle near a hog the hog becomes aggressive towards the snake but doesnt eat or kill the snake but the snake learns "rattle equals threat"?? Just pondering here

It's called natural selection. There have always been snakes that don't rattle and now that hogs are thriving those snakes that don't rattle are the ones that are surviving. I had a rattlesnake hit me last year at the lease and he never rattled. If it weren't for snake boots I would have been in bad shape. No cell service and about an hour and a half to two hours from town.

[schlag77]

They are animals they are just a Lil more dangerous than others. I'm more scared of a bug boar hog than grabbing a stick holding down a snakes head and grabbing it. Plus it makes for a way cooler skin on the wall when u have the head attached!

[Hawg Slayer 4]

all of this "stoping rattling" stuff is making me parinoid and im gonna go buy some snake boots lol
I personally have never encountered a rattler or any kind of poisonus snake while hunting and i have been hunting since i was 5 or 6. I dont want too encounter one but ill be prepared for when i come across one.
Ill be watching this thread