When the prey comes in close range it will ambush it. Reproduction Male-male interactions include pinning of the other's head and anterior trunk to the ground. Larger males are more likely to mate with females than smaller males. Once a dominant male is established, the courtship between the dominant male and the female begins. Mating most often occurs between September and January.
Copulation can take several hours to complete.
Once complete the female stores sperm from her mate or mates until approximately the following April. Once the development of embryos begins the female will commonly bask in the sun in order to speed up their development. Unlike many Crotalid species, the female will feed very late into her gestation process. Behavior Sistrurus miliarius has a relatively unique way of defending it self when approached by humans. Its defensive behavior is to remain motionless, and even though these are rattlesnakes they rarely warn someone approaching by sounding their rattle.