Many people were told growing up that counting the rattles (buttons) on a rattle snake would tell you the age of the snake. This is not true. Those “buttons” are grown every time the snake sheds. A Rattle Snake can shed many times a year and more frequently when it’s younger. These buttons also break off often when they reach over 8 buttons or more.  Only way to be 100% sure is to be there when the snake is born.