Eastern diamondback rattlesnake 2. The species was also common in coastal strand and palmetto prairie and utilized temperate hardwood forest and tropical hardwood hammocks, especially where these were adjacent to pine-dominated habitats. Today C. adamanteus occurs in the few remnants of the original habitats that remain plus various ruderal situations such as berms along canals, citrus groves, and old-field successional habitats. In the northern portion of their range, stump holes are the preferred refuge site. Crotalus adamanteus have large home ranges that may encompass as much as 500 acres.
Males maintain larger home ranges that females.
However nocturnal activity has been noted in the species. The species has few enemies as an adult. C. adamanteus is a flagship species in the endangered longleaf pine ecosystem. Conversion of longleaf habitat to intensively managed loblolly plantations, development, both residential and commercial, and agriculture have resulted in lost habitat for the species. The decline of most if not all of theses species is directly related to the loss and alteration of longleaf pine habitat in the Southeast.