[appalachian_dweller]

I've done a lot of back-country camping. I've walked right past a rattle snake before. It didn't even rattle it's tail. It did it's best impersonation of a stick and let me walk on by. Not 10 minutes before, I was going to sit down and doctor my feet (preventing blisters). Right before I sat down on a log I happened to look down and see a small rattler right between my boots. It also did it's best impersonation of a stick.

Rattle snakes are generally docile unless you step on or surprise one. The previous summer I ran across another one and it was very upset with me. It did rattle and tried to strike. I ended up having to shoot it.

[Delbert]

I would have emptied a full clip on it, then I would have reloaded! I'm not a snake lover.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Rattle snakes are generally docile unless you step on or surprise one.

Same with cottonmouths.

[Ditter]

I agree with your assessment of snakes. I have stepped over several rattlesnakes & once a huge cottonmouth. None of them tried to strike me but I surprized a rattlesnake on his way to a waterhole & it was a different story. Have you ever seen pictures of rattlesnakes standing upright & dancing on their tales? Those pictures are not faked, they really can do that.

[T Minus Four]

I've had two up close and personal encounters with rattlers this hiking season. Both times I was stepping off the trail to let mountain-bikers pass. Both times they (the snakes, not the mt. bikers) had ample opportunity to bite me but didn't. I'm not afraid, but I'm glad I didn't step right on them.

And I would NEVER hike alone without a cell phone for that very reason!

[1L]

Rattle snakes are generally docile unless you step on or surprise one.

That's exactly right. Rattlers are not agressive, and you darn near have to step on one or pick one up to get him to bite you. I think there are VERY few exceptions to this, surprising one while being very close to it being one. I've come within 2 feet of 2 rattlesnakes, and neither knew I was there. The first one, I didn't know until I looked down, and I did the world record for the standing broad jump.

Of course, both were shot, as I shoot any poisonous snake that's not hightailing it away from me. I never venture off the beaten path in Texas without a sidearm at minimum and a sawed off shotgun usually.