Rattlesnakes

[rayfound]

Yesterday there was a nice big article in the press enterprise about a Loma Linda student who was studying the behavior of local Rattlers. The article can be found here: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_snake16.3879ae8.html


Of course, not being satisfied, I emailed the Grad student, to see if he could share some insights. Today, I got a response and figured I would share with the group... some good information here.

Rattlesnakes are generally considered crepuscular, which means that they come out around dawn and dusk. However, it would probably be more accurate to say that rattlesnakes come out whenever the temperature is right and the right temperature for rattlesnakes is somewhere around 80-85 degrees F. Ground temperature will be a better indicator of potential snake activity than ambient air temperature. Mornings in particular may have air temperatures around 80 degrees but ground temperatures up around 100 degrees in direct sunlight. Rattlesnakes can't handle 100 degrees so they will be underground in these conditions. Another thing that will influence snake behavior is the time of year. Southern Pacific rattlesnakes are known be most active during May and September, when they are mating, and least active during the winter.

I haven't found much information on the population density of Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes, I would imagine it varies quite a bit depending on the food availability of a particular area. I can tell you that they generally roam around an area (a home range) of about 12-14 acres. They don't defend these home ranges so more than one snake will likely be found in the same area.

To stay safe when hiking I would suggest that you stay on the trail and watch were you step. A rattlesnakes first line of defense in not rattling it is staying hidden. At rattler will not rattle unless it is sure you have seen it. If you do end disturbing one give it a wide berth. Rattlesnakes can strike half their body length or more. If you give it enough space so that it does not feel cornered it will, mostly likely, make a quick retreat to the nearest cover.

Hope this answers your questions.

Hope this sheds some light on things. Guess I need to get one of those point the laser beam at the surface and get an infrared temperature reading...

[Ryan Sager]

Walked right up to a 5 footer last week and didn't even see it until it rattled. I hate that sound. It was not happy that I was on it's trail. He reluctantly moved so I could pass. It was about 10:30 am.

Ryan

[duckdog]

i hate the little buggers, i have moderate hearing loss{ don't use loud power tools w/o proper ear protection} so i have a hard time picking up the buzz. it makes quail hunting interesting.

[darrin terry]

Just be glad our rattlesnakes are large enough to be seen.

The southeastern states have these guys…Pigmy Rattlesnakes:



Glad we don't have these deadly little guys to watch for. Imagine having to watch for them or their offspring.

[buggravy]

An ER doc friend of mine says that the babies venom is more toxic and does more tissue damage than the adults. Oh ya? So does that mean if I get bit I'd better pray it's an adult and not an infant?

My understanding is that the adults have more control over the amount of venom they release, and may even inflict a dry bite if biting in defense as opposed to biting to kill prey. Juveniles lack that control, so if you get bit you're getting fully juiced.

[shootinghead]

Had a few rattlesnake encounters on a mtn bike ride the other night while riding in the Crafton Hills area of Yucaipa. We were out on the trail around snake:thirty (8:00 pm) had our lights mounted so we could continue in the darkness. There was a 4.5 footer stretched out across the road. I snuck up to him to get a pic with my camera phone. Either he felt the ground vibration ( I was tiptoeing) or I was putting out a huge heat signature as we were motoring at a good pace so I was sweating hard. He coiled up and started the bzzzzz, my buddy, wearing his ipod, just motors right on by. He didn't even see the snake. The snake struck at his front tire as he passed by. Immediately he stopped and turned around and looked at me with an "Oh sh*t" face. Further up the trail, my buddy's front tire went flat, that * snake bit through the tire casing and punctured the tube.

Further up the trail, there were a few others that coiled up and sizzled, my buddy had removed his ipod player so he could hear the sizzleworm chorus! Lots of tarantulas were out too!!

I love mtn biking at night, you get to see so many wonderful things!! We finished our ride around 9:30

[shootinghead]

An ER doc friend of mine says that the babies venom is more toxic and does more tissue damage than the adults. Oh ya? So does that mean if I get bit I'd better pray it's an adult and not an infant?

My understanding is that the adults have more control over the amount of venom they release, and may even inflict a dry bite if biting in defense as opposed to biting to kill prey. Juveniles lack that control, so if you get bit you're getting fully juiced.

In addition, it takes a bit of time for a snake to produce venom. The rattlers just don't invenomate anything they bite, their venom is a precious commodity for them to waste it on a large mammal in which they will never eat. Venom is designed to immobilize small rodents for consumption. Juveniles, like the previous poster mentioned, do not have the capability yet to control their venom release so anything that comes near them is getting invenomated. I am not sure what age the snakes have to be to control their venom release. I am not willing to take that survery, any takers here??