Most of the time rattlesnakes provide a warning rattle to let you know not to get any closer. When the option to retreat is available, rattlesnakes prefer to head for cover rather than bite. However, rattlesnake bites do happen. In fact, approximately eight thousand people get bitten each year in the USA with around a dozen or so deaths occurring each year according to the US Forest Service. So it's safe to say that rattlesnake bites are not exactly rare, but most of the time they are not deadly. Of course that doesn't mean that permanent injury is always avoided even when antivenom is provided. An amputated limb is a real possibility and so it is important to watch where you're stepping when hiking in an area inhabited by rattlesnakes.