I’ve had run-ins with timber rattlers and they aren’t aggressive, like copperheads.
Sadly for the rattlers, having a loud rattle is a negative for their survival - because once heard, they are often hunted down.
A couple of years ago, my husband killed a five foot rattlesnake in a barn. A dark barn and all he had with him was one of those cheap one-dollar pocket flashlights. He was going to get something and he knew about where in the barn to look, but at the last minute, he pulled out the flashlight and shone it in that general area. About that time, he heard the rattle and there it was curled up and about to strike. He had a sidearm but was hesitate to shoot in that closed-in area at a snake that was coiled with his head moving.
So, he slowly stepped back and grabbed a pitchfork. He knew he had only one opportunity so aimed carefully. Wham! Rattlesnake now pegged to the barn floor. Hubby had to stand there a while leaning on that pitchfork keeping it pinned down. It took it a while to die and boy was it pissed, still striking but just out of reach of hubby. Later he cut it open and there were 20 baby rattlers inside.