REFERENCE:
https://www.outdooralabama.com/venomous-snakes/eastern-diamondback-rattlesnake LIFE HISTORY AND ECOLOGY:
Timber rattlesnakes mate during late summer and fall. From five to 20 young are born the following year from August through October. Timber rattlesnakes may migrate short distances after mating to feed during the summer. Timber rattlesnakes hibernate in a den during the winter, forming a winter colony. These dens may be in old stumps, mammal burrows, and rock crevices.
Now is the birthing and breeding time for Timber Rattlesnakes and Eastern Diamondback and Copperheads in Alabama. I suspect that is similar to those in your area. In the late 1950s, I would assist a renowned herpetologist (George Toland) in conducting a denning survey at a wildlife refuge in eastern Kansas. We conducted the survey in late August and September each year. We were checking mainly for timber rattlesnakes and copperheads.
The glue snake traps sold By WCS (
https://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/removal/Snake_Control.html) and others can be very effective. Of course, you can make your own. I have made quite a few out of COROPLAST (corrugated plastic sign material.) It is more weather resistant than cardboard traps. It can often be purchased at local sign making shops. I usually bought it in 4’ X 8’ sheets. Sometimes old political signs are available.
I also use a homemade snake trap, patterned after minnow traps.
Snake Trap
19 newborn eastern diamondbacks taken from one gopher tortoise hole.
