Rattler's: A Natural History of Rattlesnakes

A splendid book about one of our most feared and least understood creatures, combining a highly readable text with excellent photography. This is an account that should be read by the folks who are least likely to read it, those who entertain a visceral fear of snakes. I suspect they would be both fascinated and put at ease. To begin with the big question: bites? Your chances of being bitten by a rattlesnake are vanishingly small. They are highest for men in their 20s, working outdoors in North Carolina, and even then, fatal bites are rarer than being struck by lightning. They are non-existent in Alaska, Delaware and Maine where there are no rattlesnakes. (They are most common among those who hunt, hassle or engage in heroics with snakes, again, men in their 20s.) They arrived in North America as we did, across the Bering land bridge, and although their relatives the vipers evolved in Asia, the rattler is exclusive to the Americas. Their body form (small head, massive muscular body) is typical of snakes that sit and wait for prey instead of actively seeking it. They can strike quickly, they DO NOT chase anything, including people. Altogether, a fascinating account by a world-reknowned authority on reptiles and their kin.

If you don't read a single word in this book it's worth the price for the photos alone. The section on all the various rattlesnake species in the back of the book is also outstanding and only adds to the overall excellence of this publication. Well done Mr. Mattison.

Mattison does a great job of providing an overview of the natural history of the rattlesnake genera. Besides natural history information, the book has photos and descriptions of ALL KNOWN species (and most sub-species). I grab this book off my shelf first when looking up details on a particular rattlesnake species. Most field guides contain only the "major" rattlesnake species. This book is a great quick reference on all species. It is very well organized.