PA has 2 types of rattlesnakes Timber Rattlers and Massasauga Rattlesnakes. Google the Massasauga, I bet that was it. I think it is listed as endangered. We had a timber rattler near our pond this summer, I was impressed with how unagressive it was

to reduce Rattlers on your property, you need to make it so they don't have good habitat

they eat mice, rats - so get rid of tall grass & food sources (see the lawn mowing thread for how to turn your high grass into a V-22 landing field...)

they also want to have a place to warm up their bodies (snakes often run a high Tbody, but they cannot generate heat internally, so they use solar collectors, also known as rocks)

that means get rid of rock piles and individual big rocks - you can either pound the rocks into sand with a had sledge or toss them onto the property of someone you dislike who lives far enuff away from you that the snakes will not migrate back onto your own property

some nesting areas and perches for hawks (buteos) will help too - they eat rattlers and other snakes

I HATE rattlesnakes!

Dammit! Listen, I grew up with snakes, I always had garter snakes as pets, and my uncle [Herpetologist] ran the "Snakes Alive" attraction at Chimney Rock, North Carolina for years.

But this particular breed I just can't stand!

-My rattlesnake story: In 2000, I drove my '66 Ford F100 pickup to a "you pull it" junkyard in Bithlo, Florida, just east of Orlando. I had a day off, wasn't looking for anything in particular- just kind of dumpster diving. What did I encounter there?

TWO 928's! One of which I am convinced had an aluminum body [large sections of paint had literally peeled off, it had no interior...and the exposed metal wasn't rusted at all; the B pillar was exposed and it felt to the touch like light aluminum], and the other:

******* A PERFECT UN-CRACKED INSTRUMENT POD!*********

Normy was literally running back to the truck to get my tools! When I got back to the car, I opened the drivers door, and was instantly greeted by Mr. Rattlesnake on the passenger floor boards.

mm Hmm. Yeah buddy...sure. You ARE NOT denying me my prize! I peeled the side door trim off of the junked Volvo next to the 928, and proceeded to beat the living SCHEIZE out of said reptile. I was able to convince him that an exit via the slightly opened passenger door was a good idea!

-Tonight, that perfect 1979 pod sits in my 928 in my garage. Me 1, Mr. Rattlesnake 0!

N!