Are rattlesnakes aggressive towards people in the wild?

No, they are not in the least bit aggressive towards people in the wild. If you get too close, they'll sometimes coil up and rattle to let you know. Sometimes they'll wait quietly for you to go away and will not make a sound. read more

Generally speaking, wild animals are almost never aggressive. The only wildlife we could truly say are aggressive toward humans in the U.S. would be certain bears and maybe Mountain Lions. With these exceptions, animals react in defense, not aggression. Rattlesnakes are never aggressive toward people, actively seeking us out to attack. read more

With snakes, what might appear as aggression is a fear-based reaction, and the most primal inclination of all living things, the "fight or flight" response. Snakes will always act instinctually, and these are instincts that have been embedded over 150 million years. read more

Whether aggressive or defensive, rattlesnakes are capable of inflicting deadly venomous bites when they feel vulnerable. Rattlesnakes demand respect wherever they're encountered. At any rate, it's helpful to be aware of some of the circumstances that can make them defensive, or aggressive as it may seem. read more