Habitat Prefers rocky limestone and timber, also adjacent fields, meadows, and pastures. Characteristics Yellowish or black cross-bands on gray or brown background, or blackish stippling. Hibernates in large groups. Reproduction Ovoviviparous young emerge with fangs, venom, and pre-button beginning of a rattle. Miscellaneous Rattlers shed their skin 3 or 4 times per year on average, so it is unusual to see more than 12 rattles.
Rattlers can climb trees.
They are also good swimmers. The fangs can be folded back inside a skin fold to protect them when their mouth is closed. The venom in most crotalus is hemotoxic. The rattlesanke is the only venomous snake in Utah. There are 7 species in the state.