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Pygmy Rattlesnake

Sistrurus miliarius

Reptile · family Viperidae · order Squamata

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
13 states[3]
Longest recorded life
16.1 years[4]

The Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius) is a reptile in the viper family[5]. NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide, and it is native to 13 US states[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Pygmy Rattlesnake a global rank of G5, which means Secure, and a US national rank of N5, also Secure[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The species is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe estimates 100,000 to 1,000,000 adults worldwide[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[8] 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals

Where Pygmy Rattlesnake lives

NatureServe lists the Pygmy Rattlesnake as native in 13 US states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas[3]. Most online sighting records come from Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia[9]. Those counts follow where people look and report, not where the most snakes live[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: native, state rank S4MOKentucky: native, state rank SNRKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S2TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S3NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S3SCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank SNRLAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S4ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S2TXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (13 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS4Apparently Secure
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
KentuckySNRNot Ranked
LouisianaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriS4Apparently Secure
North CarolinaS3Vulnerable
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
South CarolinaS3Vulnerable
TennesseeS2Imperiled
TexasS2Imperiled

Habitat

NatureServe records many habitat types for this snake, including hardwood, conifer and mixed forest, savanna, grassland, wetlands and riparian areas[11]. It is generally found in moist or wet lowlands, such as flatwoods, swamps, floodplains and sandhills[12]. It spends most of its time on the ground and hides under logs, stumps and thick plants, or in animal burrows[12]. It swims well and rarely climbs[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Pygmy Rattlesnake is a carnivore that eats small animals, including lizards, snakes, frogs, insects, spiders, nestling birds and small mammals[13][14]. NatureServe records a typical length of 78 cm (31 in)[15]. Litters range from 2 to 32 young, and usually 4 to 10[16]. The longest recorded lifespan comes from a captive snake, and it is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 78 cm (31 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 16.1 years (captivity)
Food habits[14] Carnivore, Invertivore
Migration[17] non-migrant

When to look for it

This snake is nocturnal and crepuscular, which means it is active at night and around dawn and dusk[18]. NatureServe describes it as non-migrant[17]. In Florida it may be active in any month, but it is seen most often from July to November[19]. In one NatureServe note for Florida, main activity from November to February was basking in the afternoon[19]. Births happen mostly from July to September[16]. Online observation records peak in August, September and October[20].

January: 172 recordsJanFebruary: 169 recordsFebMarch: 468 recordsMarApril: 592 recordsAprMay: 668 recordsMayJune: 560 recordsJunJuly: 580 recordsJulAugust: 739 recordsAugSeptember: 1,061 recordsSepOctober: 773 recordsOctNovember: 397 recordsNovDecember: 238 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[20].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January172
February169
March468
April592
May668
June560
July580
August739
September1,061
October773
November397
December238

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Pygmy Rattlesnake as present in 4 park units[21]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Safety around this animal

These tips are quoted in summary from official agencies. We add no advice of our own. Follow local rules and the agency pages linked below.

From CDC / NIOSH

  • CDC lists rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths and coral snakes as the venomous snakes of the United States.
  • After a bite, get emergency medical care as soon as possible, and do not drive yourself.
  • Keep the bitten limb in a comfortable, neutral position, take off rings and watches before swelling starts, wash the bite and cover it with a clean dry dressing.
  • Do not cut the wound, suck out venom, or use a tourniquet, ice or water immersion. Do not handle the snake, even a dead one.
  • If you can do it safely, take a photo of the snake from a distance to help with identification.

Source: CDC / NIOSH[22]

Questions people ask

Is the Pygmy Rattlesnake endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Where does the Pygmy Rattlesnake live?
It is native to 13 US states, from Texas and Oklahoma east to Florida and North Carolina, and north to Missouri and Kentucky[3].
What does the Pygmy Rattlesnake eat?
It eats lizards, snakes, frogs, insects, centipedes, spiders, nestling birds and small mammals[13].
How big is a Pygmy Rattlesnake?
NatureServe records a typical length of 78 cm (31 in)[15].
How long does a Pygmy Rattlesnake live?
The oldest known Pygmy Rattlesnake lived in captivity, and that is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Pygmy Rattlesnake is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Pygmy Rattlesnake: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Pygmy Rattlesnake as native in 13 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 16.1 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius) is a reptile in the family Viperidae, order Squamata. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Pygmy Rattlesnake: Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Pygmy Rattlesnake (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Pygmy Rattlesnake: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Savanna, Grassland/herbaceous, Cropland/hedgerow, Herbaceous wetland, Scrub-shrub... NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Pygmy Rattlesnake. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Pygmy Rattlesnake. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 78 cm (31 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Pygmy Rattlesnake. NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe migration category for Pygmy Rattlesnake: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  19. NatureServe notes on phenology for Pygmy Rattlesnake. NatureServe Explorer
  20. GBIF observation records of Pygmy Rattlesnake in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  21. NPSpecies park lists recording Pygmy Rattlesnake as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  22. Safety guidance from CDC / NIOSH. CDC

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.