What Is More Dangerous, a Baby or an Adult Rattlesnake?
We have heard more than once over the years that baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adult rattlesnakes. And after spotting a live baby rattlesnake in the driveway of my father’s suburban house recently, I decided it was time to dig into what is actually going on.
Baby Western Rattlesnake in the driveway
The usual reason people believe babies are more dangerous is because of the venom-control theory. The claim is that young rattlesnakes cannot control how much venom they release, so they inject all of it at once. Meanwhile, an adult rattlesnake is thought to be more experienced and less likely to “waste” venom, sometimes delivering a dry bite with little or no venom.
Here is the thing. Even if you assume the baby releases all of its venom, it is still working with a small supply from small venom sacs.
Now compare that to an adult rattlesnake. A bigger snake means bigger venom sacs. Even if the adult only injects a fraction of its total venom, that fraction can still be more venom than the baby can deliver in a full release.
That is why a defensive bite from an adult rattlesnake can be significantly more severe than a bite from a young rattlesnake.
So is the “baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous” idea myth or fact? It depends on how you define danger. What does not change is the only rule that matters: avoid a bite from any size rattlesnake.
Stay alert in rattlesnake country, and do not let your guard down just because you are in a place that feels normal, like your own driveway.
Close-ups of the baby Western Rattlesnake exhibiting just 2 buttons on its rattle.
