hudsonherper:

This mama was NOT happy that I was near her babies. She came out of her crevice to greet me with an intimidating pose and rattle. Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) NY 

Rattlesnakes, rarely for reptiles and almost unheard of in snakes, are fairly social. They also demonstrate maternal care, which is again quite a rare thing for reptiles, especially with live babies and not just the eggs. See the other adults? They won’t eat the babies like most snakes would with a batch of babies that weren’t their own. In fact, adult timber rattlers are known to defend batches of babies that aren’t related to them. One of the few snakes that can be kept in groups in captivity, and, given their fairly social behavior in the wild (especially with members of their family), they probably should be when space allows. 

And look at the tailtip of the baby up front. Rattlesnakes are born with only one segment on the tail, they can’t rattle at that point. They have to shed at least once, add segments on, so they can make the intimidating bzzzt noise. Newborn rattlers can’t rattle, which is something to be aware of when IDing a smallish snake.