With their signature noisy tails, rattlesnakes have often captured people’s imagination, in books and movies, or in the wild.

“Nobody is apathetic about rattlesnakes,” said Jimmy Stiles, a biologist and snake expert with Auburn University. “They’re charismatic creatures.”

Of the six venomous snake species in Alabama, three are rattlesnakes. All rattlesnakes are venomous, and these three are no different.

Here’s what you should know — and how to protect yourself.

Pygmy Rattlesnake

The smallest of the bunch, the pygmy rattlesnake is usually less than two feet in length. When coiled, the snakes are roughly the size of a loblolly pine cone. Some Alabamians refer to the snake as a “ground rattler.”

The rattle on the end of the snake’s tail is very small, not much wider than the tail itself. It makes a noise similar to that of an insect buzzing, according to the state department of conservation and natural resources. The warning rattle can be difficult to hear.

Pygmy rattlesnakes are found throughout the state, but their population is believed to be declining. You’re more likely to see them in south Alabama. Stiles said they’re more common in Mobile and Baldwin counties.

The snakes are most often encountered during the late summer, in late afternoon or evening, according to the department of conservation and natural resources. Sometimes they can be very aggressive. Other times they’ll lay motionless to avoid detection by humans.

People can also confuse pygmy rattlesnakes with other small snakes in the state, Stiles said. They look a lot like young hognose snakes, a harmless snake common in Alabama, he said.

But though they are small, and their head is not triangular like a lot of venomous snakes, pygmy rattlesnakes can still cause painful injury with their bite. So, it’s important to be as careful with them as with other rattlesnakes.

“Don’t let the small size fool you,” Stiles said.

Timber Rattlesnake

Timber rattlesnakes are the most common rattlesnake in Alabama. Also known as the canebreak rattlesnake, it’s found throughout the state, though it’s significantly less common on the Gulf Coast, Stiles said.

The snakes aren’t really common in urban areas, but you’ll see them in almost any rural habitat. They can be up to 6 feet long, but average around 4.5 feet. Timber rattlesnakes are the most common rattlesnake on the east side of the Mississippi River, Stiles said.

Timber rattlesnakes have black chevrons going down their back, and a black tail. They’ll also often have a gold or tan stripe going down their back and a gold head.

They eat a wide variety of creatures, Stiles said, like birds, squirrels and other small mammals. Often, timber rattlesnakes will be attracted to bird feeders or deer feeders that also draw their prey.

“Realize that when you’re feeding wildlife, you’re creating a food chain,” Stiles said. “By default, you’re attracting predators.”

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest rattlesnake in the world, and the largest venomous snake in North America.

The snakes can get up to 8 feet long, with yellow, black, and brown diamonds running along their backs. On average, eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are around 4 to 5 feet long.

They’re found throughout the lower third of Alabama, in longleaf pine habitats like the Conecuh National Forest, Stiles said. But eastern diamondbacks’ population is declining, in part because of a loss of the longleaf pines, Stiles said. The loss of longleaf pines also affects other endangered species like the gopher tortoise and the eastern indigo snake.

Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are also threatened by humans, Stiles said. It is illegal in the state to keep the rattlesnakes in captivity, or to buy and sell any part of them, he said. You can relocate the snake as long as it’s within 24 hours of detection and relocation is within the same county.

There’s an effort to have the snakes listed as “endangered” and federally protected, Stiles said.

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is also one of the most dangerous snakes in the United States. The snakes have the most venom yield of any snake in North America, Stiles said, and their venom is highly toxic.

If you are bitten by one, it is a serious medical emergency and you should seek treatment as soon as possible.

“They seem to know that they’re dangerous,” Stiles said. “They’re not going to approach people.”