
Timber rattlesnake
Dark zigzag bands across the body
Illustration · not shown at life sizeReptile guests / Snake
Sistrurus catenatus
Big dark blotches help this small rattlesnake blend into wetland plants. Its rattle is a warning to give it room.
Native to southeastern Wisconsin historically, but now extremely rare and absent from many former sites. This is a Wisconsin reptile guest, not an everyday neighborhood find.
Let’s look closerLittle clues
Dark blotches along a thick body.
A small rattle at the tail tip.
Hunts mice and other small animals.
Out in the world
Wet meadows and marsh edges, with nearby drier ground.
Active during the warmer months; shelters underground through winter.
Look only from a distance with a grownup. Never touch, approach, or try to move a snake.
A closer look
Compare its separate dark blotches with the timber rattlesnake’s bands. Patterns vary, so this illustration is not a safe way to identify a snake you find.
This species faces a real conservation threat. Encounters depend on season and habitat.
For curious grownups, too
Original summaries, with references for deeper reading.
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Matches this front · dark lettering 0.5 mm, outline 0.1 mm at 1 mm maximum
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Front artwork is made for a 3-inch clear disc. Revised artwork still needs a physical check. Disc backs are blank; use the single carrier QR from the print studio to open the field guide.
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