Rattlesnake (Retiring)

Rattlesnake Facts

Rattlesnakes are best known for, and most easily recognized by, their rattle.  The rattlesnake babies are born with what is called a pre-button.  The baby snake loses this piece when it sheds its skin for the first time.  With the shedding a new button appears.  With every shedding after that another button, or rattle, will be added.  These buttons are made up of a material called Keratin, which is what the scales and your fingernails are made of! The rattles are empty, so what makes the noise? The noise comes from each segment knocking together, so until a rattlesnake has two or more pieces it isn’t going to make a sound! Learn more HERE.