However, they do tend to hold certain traits and habits. To keep summer activities such as hiking, bike riding and camping safe and enjoyable, Andelt recommends becoming familiar with the habits of rattlesnakes and following some rattlesnake safety guidelines. Rattlesnakes most often bite when they feel threatened or when they are startled. Move cautiously around rocks and open areas so not to jolt a dozing rattlesnake out of slumber. Snakes may avoid areas with lots of human activity because of noise, but not always.
Rattlesnakes are cold-blooded creatures.
They strive to maintain a certain body temperature, which means that their behavior varies according to the temperatures of seasons and times of the day. They, like humans, greet spring and summer with an enthusiastic desire to be outside where it's warm. To keep warm, rattlesnakes come out during warm hours of the day and sun themselves on rocks and other open areas. Occasionally, during the warmest hours of particularly hot days, they'll nestle under rocks or shrubs to keep from getting too warm. They'll usually be under a rock or in a hole during cool hours of the evening and morning, where they can soak up the warmth from the earth or rocks.