When I was much younger, and arguably much dumber, I worked for a man who did an educational snake show at the state park where I was working at the time. It focused mainly on native Florida species, but did include a few exotic snakes, most notably a large 150 pound python. But the biggest hit of the show was always the finale, when my boss got a rattlesnake to pop a balloon he was holding. On occasion, one of the snakes would go off feed and we would have to syringe feed it. That was always a bit scary when it was one of the rattlers. It was while working with these animals that I came to appreciate their place in our environment.

Most people know that rattlesnakes are poisonous, and even though most bites in humans aren’t fatal, they are very painful and require expensive hospitalization. Bites can also be a problem in domesticated animals, especially curious dogs and cats that stick their noses down to sniff the snake. Horses, cattle, and other grazing animals also occasionally step on a snake while it is sunning itself. Bites in animals are often fatal, and the ones that do survive again usually do so because of quick and expensive medical intervention.

So you are probably asking, where does the “useful” part come in???
Most people don’t think about it, but rattlesnakes are very important in controlling mice, rats, and other rodents. By keeping rodents in check, rattlesnakes (and other predators) help control the spread of disease and prevent crop destruction. Rattlers also help to distribute plant seeds into new areas, when they eat rodents that have undigested seeds in their cheek pouches or stomachs. Finally, rattlesnakes provide food by being prey for other animals including hawks and owls, foxes and coyotes, and sometimes even other snakes including the threatened Eastern indigo snake. So even though the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake is looked on as a dangerous and harmful creature, even it has an important place in the balance of this world.