FAQ
General Rattlesnake Info
What do the rattlesnakes eat?
They eat small vertebrates including mammals (rodents, rabbits, shrews), lizards, birds, and other animals.
What eats the rattlesnakes?
Depending on where the snake lives, a variety of animals might eat them, including birds or prey, magpies, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, badgers, and kingsnakes.
Do rattlesnakes drink water? How do they drink?
Rattlesnakes must drink water, as they cannot get enough fluids from their prey. There is no standing water at the dens, so the only water source is the very occasional rain shower. When it rains, rattlesnakes may flatten their bodies and drink rain water that collects on their backs.
Can you tell how old a rattlesnake is by counting the number of rattles?
Not really. With younger snakes that still have their birth rattle, you can get a sense of how many years old they are, but since snakes can shed their skin more than once a year, the number of rattles does not equal the number of years they have been alive. The rattle segments also fall off as they get worn down by use. Once the birth rattle falls off, it is impossible to age the snake from just looking at it.
How can you tell males from females?
Males tend to have longer, tapering tails while females have shorter, more stumpy tails.
Are males larger than females?
Yes, males are on average longer than females, Females can be quite large and thick, though!
How long do rattlesnakes live for?
Their life span is usually around 10-20 years, but they can live 60+years!
How long does it take for rattlesnakes to reach sexual maturity?
This depends on how much a snake eats, but it is typically 3-5 years before a rattlesnake becomes sexually mature.
Do the snakes fight each other over space? Are they territorial?
We have not seen any evidence of snakes fighting for space. They seem to tolerate each other. However, we have occasionally seen males fight each other during the breeding season, when they are competing for access to potential mates. However, those brawls do not involve any biting, but simply wearing the opponent down until they give up.
How is venom made by rattlesnakes?
Rattlesnake venom is made in glands on the sides of their head and injected through their fangs. The venom is used to kill and digest their prey. Rattlesnake venom has inspired drugs to help reduce blood clotting and heart disease risk!
What to do when you encounter a rattlesnake?
If you see a rattlesnake out in nature, stay 10 feet away from it and leave it alone in its natural habitat. Most of the time, the snake will either not react to you or try to move away from you. Only if a rattlesnake is cornered or handled is it likely to become defensive. If a rattlesnake is near your home and poses a safety concern, call a permitted snake relocator to take care of moving it. Search the Free Snake Relocation Directory to find information for snake relocators in your area.
Why do they prefer groups over being solitary? Do they help each other?
There are potential benefits to being in groups, such as safety in numbers and retaining body heat for longer, but there is still a lot that we don’t know about how living in groups impacts the snakes. This is something we are researching through Project RattleCam.
Do the females reproduce every year?
Females typically reproduce every other year. Once a female gives birth, she will usually forgo reproduction the following year so that she can leave the den to feed and build up her energy reserves. If a female is able to eat in the same summer that she gives birth, she may be able to reproduce again the next year.
When do the snakes give birth?
Typically, they give birth between late August and early September.
What is the average litter size?
Western and Prairie Rattlesnakes typically have about 8 babies, but can occasionally have over a dozen.
Do the snakes lay eggs?
Rattlesnakes give live birth! Fetuses grow inside an amniotic sac and are connected to their mother with a placenta. They are also nurtured by a yolk sac as they develop.
Colorado Rattlesnakes FAQ
What kind of rattlesnakes are these?
Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis)
What are the skinny snakes?
Wandering Gartersnakes, a subspecies of the Western Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans) are the most common snake seen on the camera other than rattlesnakes. Occasionally, Smooth Greensnakes (Opheodrys vernalis) also make an appearance on the cam.
Why are the snakes at this location?
The camera is situated at a den site, where rattlesnakes retreat into rock crevices during the winter months (November-April) to escape freezing temperatures. During the summer, several dozen pregnant females use the den as a rookery, where they give birth to their babies in late August and early September. Rattlesnake dens are more common in areas with bitterly cold winters.
Where do the snakes go when they leave the den?
Around early June, most of the snakes at the den will travel downhill from the den to the surrounding meadows and shrublands, where they will spend the summer searching for food. These individuals will not return to the den until late September or October.
Do the snakes eat at the den?
No. There is very little food at the den. They also don’t eat while hibernating during the winter, meaning that all of the snakes have gone at least 6 months without a meal when they emerge from hibernation in May. Most of the pregnant females, which will stay at the den throughout the summer, do not eat at all while resting at the den, meaning that they will not eat again until the following year. This means that they are capable of going over 1.5 years without eating.
How large are these snakes?
Adults can get up to a little over 3 feet long on average, with the largest adults getting up to 4 feet long. The heaviest snakes weigh about 1kg, just over 2lbs.
What is with all the face rubbing?
We are not sure. It is possible that it has to do with the snakes preparing to shed their skin.
How often do the snakes shed their skin?
Rattlesnakes typically shed their skins 2-3 times a year, although it depends on how quickly they grow. At the Colorado den, the snakes may only shed once a year. The snakes get a new rattle segment each time they shed their skin.
How many snakes are in the group/den?
Not sure. There are several dozen at least, but it is possible that there may be as many as a few hundred at the den. The number changes as snakes move around the hill (there are several spots they gather) and some leave after they shed.
What is the point of these livestreams?
The point of this livestream is to watch the rattlesnakes in their natural environment. We encourage you to watch more and possibly see these animals in a different way!
California Rattlesnakes FAQ
What kind of rattlesnakes are these?
These are Western Rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus), the most common and widespread species of rattlesnake in California.
Where are they located?
This camera is located on the Central Coast of California.
Why are the snakes at this location?
The camera is situated at a rookery site, where pregnant females gather during the summer to give birth to and care for their babies.
How many snakes are in the rookery?
We have seen about 7-10 adult snakes using this site.
How large are these snakes?
Most of the snakes at the California den are 2-3 feet long.
About Project Rattlecam Research
Where is the camera located?
The Colorado camera is located at an undisclosed location in Colorado. We are unable to discuss any details of the location of the camera in order to protect the snakes and their home.
Our California camera is in an undisclosed location along the Central California Coast.
What camera do you use / what are the technical specs of the camera?
We use solar-powered Axis security cameras to record our livestreams. These cameras are able to tilt, zoom in, and can be controlled remotely. The Colorado cam has additional features, such as infrared night vision and wiper blades.
How long have you been monitoring the sites?
May of 2024 is when we first launched the livestream of the Colorado rookery! The California den has been streaming since 2021
How long have snakes been using the den sites?
This is not known. However, it seems that the snakes have been using these den sites for many generations.
Can the snakes sense the infrared light of the camera’s night vision?
No. The camera’s infrared light is a different wavelength of light than the infrared rays that rattlesnakes can sense.
Can the snakes hear the camera zooming?
We have not seen anything to indicate that the zoom of the camera bothers them.
What kind of research are you gathering?
We are interested in studying social interactions, behavioral physiology, and interactions with other species, including predators. This project is largely exploratory and has allowed us to document behaviors and interactions that we would never be able to see by observing the snakes in-person.
Why are you observing the rattlesnakes? What is the point of these livestreams?
The point of these livestreams is to watch and study the natural behavior of wild rattlesnakes in the absence of human disturbance. Because rattlesnakes typically change their behavior when we encounter them, we know very little about what their lives are actually like. We encourage you to watch more and you may come to see these animals in a different way.
Common Myths and Misconceptions
Are rattlesnakes aggressive?
Snakes are not aggressive towards humans. However, snakes may become defensive if they feel cornered or surprised. Most of the time, when snakes encounter humans, they just try to slither away and avoid confrontation. The sound of a rattlesnake rattling is the sound of them screaming!
Do rattlesnakes want to bite people?
No, rattlesnakes do not want to bite people. Rattlesnakes want to use their venom to kill and digest their prey. They only bite people when we agitate them or accidentally step on them.
Is it true that bites from baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than bites from adults?
It is false that babies are more dangerous than adults. Bites from adults are more severe, as larger snakes inject more venom than smaller snakes. Rattlesnakes of all ages can control how much venom they inject.
Can you tell how old a rattlesnake is by counting the number of rattles on its tail?
Not really. The number of rattles does not equal the number of years a snake has been alive, as they get a new rattle every time they shed their skin, and they often shed their skin multiple times a year. The rattle segments also fall off as they get worn down by use. Once the birth rattle falls off (the rattle segment they are born with), it is impossible to age the snake from just looking at it.