My sister's encounter with rattler was such that the snake did NOT rattle, if fact, after striking her above the knee, it coiled and stuck again missing her as she jerked back from the bite...both times no rattle. My experience has been that rattlers may or may not rattle. When they do, it's not a typical rattle sound, more of a loud angry buzz. About 5 years ago while fishing the N. Fork or the Kaweah River (south of Sequoia National Park), I stepped on a 3 footer...it buzzed, and I probably beat Beamons world record for the long jump getting away. My family has property off N. Fork Drive (Three Rivers area) and this area has many rattlers...and yes, some have been blasted away with a 12ga. if close to the house. Yeah, I love nature and animals, but sorry, I just can't get fuzzy about a rattler. BTW, my nephews frequently find California King snakes and treat them gently as they are a big predator of the rattlesnake.