What defensive action does the *Crotalus atrox* frequently choose when confronted, contributing to its high incidence of human bites in the U.S.?

Answer

Coiling up and issuing a loud warning rattle

When faced with a perceived threat, the *Crotalus atrox* often exhibits a behavior that differs from species that prioritize immediate flight. Instead, this snake frequently adopts a confrontational defensive stance. This typically involves coiling its body, maximizing its ability to strike, and initiating the use of its specialized tail structure to produce a loud, distinct rattle warning. While the text notes they are fundamentally reclusive and avoid humans when possible, this tendency to stand its ground and vocalize a warning when detected is cited as a reason why, combined with its prevalence in populated regions, it is responsible for the greatest number of human snakebites in the United States.

What defensive action does the *Crotalus atrox* frequently choose when confronted, contributing to its high incidence of human bites in the U.S.?

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