The rattlesnakes around here leave you alone if you leave them alone.
Baloney. Typical modern snowflake thinking. The problem is what they define as “leaving them alone”. That can include failing to notice them as you walk by or as you pick something up.
I am fairly well read, and I have never seen a single account of people who settled the American west opining that rattlers will leave you alone if you don’t mess with them.
BS, I’ve seen too many strikes and too many bites and NONE of them were being bothered.
My husband grew up in snake infested country and to this day wear boots exclusively. They certainly have kept him from harm many times.
A cooperhead sneaked up and bit hubby who didn’t know it was anywhere around. Thankfully, it was a dry bite.