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Meet the AnimalsRattlesnakes of Western North America 
Who hasn't felt a start of fear when you hear that rattling noise? If only in a movie or on TV, we all know that rattlesnakes mean danger. Rattlesnakes can be quite aggressive, and they are skittish about anything that moves around them. They strike out at whatever disturbs their rest. Since these fierce reptiles are one of the few animals who can take down a grown human (if you're a long way from a hospital and have no anti-venin available), smart people will always be careful when they're in rattlesnake country. Like all reptiles, rattlesnakes are cold-blooded and need warmth from the sun or earth in order to survive. They normally eat small mammals and birds, sometimes other reptiles, and even occasionally fish and invertebrates. They inject their prey with venom, usually killing them quickly. They often lose their teeth when biting, but have reserve teeth growing all the time. They swallow the prey whole, and digest it as it passes through their body. Normally the snake eats once every two or three weeks. Rattlesnakes are often found in dens, where as many as 1000 of them congregate. Sometimes snakes other than rattlers will be found in these dens as well. Dens are generally found in earth or rocks where the warmth helps the snakes remain active. The rattling noise is a warning sound and isn't used for snake communication. In fact, rattlesnakes are deaf. When the weather gets cold, rattlesnakes will hibernate, often in groups for added warmth. If you happen to be hiking in an area where you believe rattlesnakes might live, stay alert. Don't step over logs or rocks without knowing what's beyond them. Rattlesnakes are usually quite still, and easily overlooked. Avoid tall grass, and if you do see a snake, stay far away from it. Photo by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Return to Meet the Animals |
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