Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

Yes. The timber rattlesnake is a pit viper (family Viperidae), like every rattlesnake, copperhead and cottonmouth in the U.S. Its bite needs emergency care: call 911 and keep the bitten limb still. Antivenom is given in hospital.

Species commonly confused with rattlesnakes and recorded in the same states: eastern hog-nosed snake (recorded in 29 of its 30 states), gopher snake (recorded in 10 of its 30 states), pine snake (recorded in 8 of its 30 states), eastern fox snake (recorded in 7 of its 30 states) and Great Plains rat snake (recorded in 6 of its 30 states).

Records are spread over 30 states; the top three, Pennsylvania, Alabama and Virginia, hold 38% of them.

Across the U.S., observation records of the timber rattlesnake run mostly April through September, peaking in July with 20% of them. Almost none are from December to February.

Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in April (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, New York, Tennessee and Texas) and latest in May (North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia). The most common peak month is July, shared by New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Pennsylvania holds 479 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 20 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Pennsylvania run mostly May through August, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Wyoming County, Centre County and Susquehanna County. Next come Westmoreland County (24) and Clinton County (20).

Alabama holds 245 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Alabama run mostly April through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Lee County, Macon County and Bullock County. Next come Chambers County (13) and Barbour County (12).

Virginia holds 242 licensed records, the 12th most recorded of 30 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly May through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Bedford County, Albemarle County and Rappahannock County. Next come Augusta County (16) and Madison County (15).

New York holds 207 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 17 snakes listed there. Its observation records in New York run mostly April through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Ulster County, Orange County and Dutchess County. Next come Rockland County (7) and Chemung County (5).

Texas holds 188 licensed records, the 45th most recorded of 86 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Texas run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Brazos County, Tyler County and Jasper County. Next come Grayson County (10) and Bastrop County (7).

Kansas holds 177 licensed records, the 27th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Kansas come from Douglas County, Marshall County and Franklin County. Next come Johnson County (9) and Miami County (8).

Georgia holds 166 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Baker County, Harris County and Charlton County. Next come Jones County (7) and Rabun County (6).

Oklahoma holds 116 licensed records, the 27th most recorded of 50 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from Marshall County, Garvin County and LeFlore County. Next come Cherokee County (7) and Atoka County (7).

North Carolina holds 65 licensed records, the 33rd most recorded of 39 snakes listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly May through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Macon County, Jackson County and Montgomery County. Next come Transylvania County (5) and Haywood County (4).

Connecticut holds 64 licensed records, the joint 7th most recorded of 14 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Connecticut come from Litchfield County, Middlesex County and Hartford County. Next come New Haven County (2) and Fairfield County (1).

South Carolina holds 64 licensed records, the 24th most recorded of 40 snakes listed there. Its observation records in South Carolina run mostly May through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Charleston County, Lexington County and Jasper County. Next come Aiken County (6) and Berkeley County (4).

Tennessee holds 50 licensed records, the 17th most recorded of 32 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run mostly April through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Blount County, Sevier County and Marion County. Next come Morgan County (3) and Carter County (2).

Arkansas holds 46 licensed records, the 16th most recorded of 36 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Arkansas run mostly April through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Columbia County, Polk County and Crawford County. Next come Washington County (5) and Logan County (3).

Kentucky holds 46 licensed records, the 10th most recorded of 24 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Kentucky come from Bullitt County, McCreary County and Lyon County. Next come Bell County (5) and Madison County (3).

Wisconsin holds 46 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 16 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Wisconsin come from Sauk County, Pepin County and Grant County. Next come La Crosse County (1) and Pierce County (1).

West Virginia holds 44 licensed records, the 12th most recorded of 18 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in West Virginia come from Pendleton County, Tucker County and Monroe County. Next come Preston County (4) and Monongalia County (3).

Ohio holds 39 licensed records, the 20th most recorded of 25 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Ohio come from Scioto County, Ross County and Vinton County. Next come Adams County (3) and Franklin County (3).

Louisiana holds 38 licensed records, the joint 23rd most recorded of 41 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Louisiana come from Natchitoches Parish, Plaquemines Parish and Rapides Parish. Next come Concordia Parish (2) and Jackson Parish (2).

Iowa holds 35 licensed records, the 10th most recorded of 22 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Iowa come from Madison County, Lee County and Johnson County. Next come Allamakee County (1) and Jones County (1).

Mississippi holds 34 licensed records, the joint 17th most recorded of 38 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Mississippi come from Oktibbeha County, Adams County and Panola County. Next come Warren County (3) and Kemper County (2).

Maryland holds 32 licensed records, the 18th most recorded of 20 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Maryland come from Frederick County, Garrett County and Allegany County. Next come Montgomery County (1) and Washington County (1).

The timber rattlesnake record leans on older material: only 32% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1990. The oldest dated record is from 1851; the busiest year was 2025, with 113 records.

Of the 275 counties where the timber rattlesnake is most recorded, 131 are also top counties for the ring-necked snake, more than for any other snake.

Other species of the genus Crotalus with profiles here: Western rattlesnake, Western diamondback rattlesnake, Prairie rattlesnake, Sidewinder, Mohave rattlesnake, Red diamond rattlesnake, Black-tailed rattlesnake and Eastern diamondback rattlesnake.