Rattlesnakes, like all terrestrial snakes, can and do climb! It’s not uncommon for a rattlesnake to be found in a bush, tree, up in rocks, or any number of surprising places. This is a very different situation than a rattlesnake climbing straight up a relatively smooth surface. A common misconception, fueled by a combination of a general lack of knowledge of snake physiology, is that rattlesnakes can easily climb up and over a backyard block wall.
So … let’s put it to the test! If rattlesnakes can climb over a block wall, they will have no problem getting over a shorter version. Right?
The Experiment: Put rattlesnakes in an approximation of a standard Phoenix-area block wall and see if they can climb out.
Watch the experiment and additional information here:
Whenever we talk about Rattlesnake Fencing, we get comments saying it can’t possibly work because rattlesnakes can just climb over the wall. Well … let’s see if they can!
We put it to the test with every species of rattlesnake in our service area, along with a couple of non-venomous snakes. According to the comments, all of them should be able to climb the wall and escape without any trouble. But what actually happened isn’t a surprise to anyone with a bit of knowledge of how snakes work.
Snakes included in the experiment:
- Adult Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
- Two juvenile Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes
- Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
- Mojave Rattlesnake
- Sonoran Sidewinder
- Tiger Rattlesnake
- Blacktailed Rattlesnake
- Newborn (days old) Western Diamondback Rattlesankes
- California Kingsnake (common, harmless snake)
- Sonoran Gophersnake (common, harmless, BIG snake)
Why Can’t Rattlesnakes Climb Over?
Rattlesnakes can climb a tree, up rough stone, and other sufficiently rough surfaces, but going up smooth surfaces isn’t something they are capable of. If the wall has big problems, like an uneven surface or other ledges, then this is considered part of the rattlesnake fence design. What no rattlesnake can do, however, is climb right up a wall like a slug.
Why is knowing what rattlesnakes can climb important?
The physical capabilities of rattlesnakes, and snakes in general, are widely misunderstood. It’s no mystery, too, as to why. We’re raised to believe they’re slimy, supernaturally evil creatures. But, a little knowledge shows this is not the case. And, sometimes, those misconceptions can actually be dangerous.
When can not understanding rattlesnake physiology be dangerous? When it prevents people from taking basic actions to protect their properties. An example of this that we discuss every day: people who choose not to have rattlesnake fencing installed or take other preventative measures because a neighbor or random Facebook person told them that rattlesnakes can just climb over the block wall, so it’s useless. Anyone with a little knowledge of snakes knows this is not the case, but we know that the misconceptions about them are typically louder than the facts.
This is not snake trivia, it’s a message of public safety. Rattlesnake encounters and rattlesnake bites are largely preventable issues. It requires letting go of cultural misconceptions, however, which ironically perpetuate needless danger.