Last month my Dad was walking in his backyard in Los Angeles when he heard the distinctive sound of a snake's rattle. When he saw the snake, he knew immediately that it was a rattlesnake. The timing could not have been worse because five of his grandchildren, all under the age of 8 years, were visiting for a few days. My Dad called the fire department which sent people to his house to kill the snake. In my opinion, it is unfortunate that they had to kill the snake rather than relocate it to a place where it could not harm people.
Rattlesnakes play an important role in the ecosystem by eating small rodents.
Rattlesnakes are classified as pit vipers because they have a facial pit located between each nostril and eye. The facial pit contains heat sensitive receptors that allow the snake to locate its prey. It has been estimated that the receptors in the facial pit are sensitive enough to detect temperature differences of only 0.003 degrees centigrade. Rattlesnakes have another interesting sensory apparatus called the Jacobson's organ. Jacobson's organ is located in the roof of the snake's mouth.