Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridusGeographic Region: originally found in 31 states from southern Maine to northern Florida and west to Minnesota and eastern Texas. Now it is found in only 27 states and has been extirpated from Maine, Rhode Island, central New Hampshire, most of Vermont, Long Island and parts of Ohio
Isn’t it Wild? The rattle is made of loosely attached horny segments made of keratin, similar to human fingernails. A new segment is added each time the snake sheds. When vibrated, the rattle makes the buzzing sound characteristic of a disturbed rattlesnake.
Details
Length: 3 – 4.5 ft.
mice and rats
Endangered
Wild Woodlands
Exhibit information
Discover the amazing creatures that call North America home! Watch the bison graze, the pronghorn demonstrate their speed, and the wild turkey show off his courtship displays! You can even spy the only two venomous snakes in New England–the northern copperhead and timber rattlesnake, and learn about their crucial role in the ecosystem. Most of the species within the North American section are great conservation success stories, including the shy red wolf.
Red wolves were listed as Extinct in the Wild by 1980. Through the collaboration of the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the Associations of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Red Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP), the last 14 remaining wild red wolves were brought into zoos to establish a captive breeding program with the primary objective of forming the foundation of a wild population through reintroduction back to the wild. Even though breeding is a main component, our red wolves also help educate the public on the plight of their wild counterparts.
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of these partner facilities across the United States, the captive red wolf population has once again risen steadily to nearly 250 wolves! Learn all about how these animals have been saved from extinction.
