2026 marks the 250th anniversary of its founding American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. One of the most enduring symbols of those “times that try men's souls” This bright yellow Gadsden flag. With it folded timber rattlesnakeemblazoned with the infamous words “Don't treat me” (no apostrophe), a mysterious reptile slipped his way into the American imagination long before the bald eagle appeared.
“The next time you see a rattlesnake or hear its warning sound, consider it a reminder.” The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) wrote in a recent blog post.. “A reminder of where we came from, and a reminder that American symbols don't always float. Sometimes they rattle.”
To the American colonists, the snake became a symbol that they should be left alone or face the consequences. Benjamin Franklin He even praised the rattlesnake for never striking first, but not retreating either. Even before the Gadsden flag appeared, Franklin published a 1754 cartoon in his book. Pennsylvania Gazette showing a timber rattlesnake. In his now famous cartoon Join or Die, a snake is cut into pieces labeled by the colony. This considered to be the first political cartoon published in an American newspaper. and helped solidify the rattlesnake as an important early American symbol throughout the Civil War.
Although the reptile has been an enduring historical symbol, real timber rattlesnake (Terrible rattlesnake) is still a real snake here in the United States. However, the snake faces an increased threat. It is found throughout the eastern United States from the Mississippi River Valley to the Appalachians. This poisonous viper inhabits forests, rugged terrain and rocky outcrops. However, it has disappeared from parts of its range due to habitat loss and fragmentation, vehicle collisions, and declining food supplies (small mammals).
These rattles are slow to mature and reproduce infrequently, making them especially vulnerable to disturbance. They are listed as endangered in New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, Virginia, New Hampshire, Indiana and Ohio. Timber rattlesnakes listed as endangered in New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota and Texas. They were also extinct in Canada since 2001..
As is the case with most snakesTimber rattlesnakes have a bad reputation. As Ben Franklin estimated, they would I'd rather warn you than bite you. They generally want nothing to do with people unless they are threatened (or stepped on). Reptiles are not aggressive, and their rattles are just a built-in warning system that says, “Stay away.” Timber rattlesnakes also support healthy ecosystems, rodent population control and reducing the spread of disease and crop damage. As top predators in many forest ecosystems, they serve as indicators of environmental health.
The FWS says this symbol of our nation's natural history is worth remembering as the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of American independence.
“They remind us not only of what we have fought for, but also of what we still have to protect,” FWS writes. “The timber rattlesnake existed at the founding. It is woven into our history, our flags and our ideals. It is not just a symbol. These snakes are real, alive and still need our care.”
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