Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is a Special Concern species and a Protected Wild Animal. Adult males and non-gravid adult females prefer deciduous forests and woodland edges during the summer. Gravid females and juveniles prefer to remain in open-canopy bluff prairies during the summer because of higher preferred body temperatures, but avoid overheating by taking advantage of such things as brush, trees, and rock shelves to provide shade. Timber rattlesnakes emerge from hibernation as early as April 1 but may continue to emerge well into June. They remain active until as late as mid-October, females that gave birth that year remain active longer than other individuals. They primarily breed in August and females give birth about a year later. In Wisconsin, females typically produce young only once every 3-4 years.
