RattleResearchers
Community scientists studying behavioral interactions at the Colorado MegaDen
Project Goals
Project RattleCam’s RattleResearchers are students and community scientists studying the behavioral ecology of Prairie Rattlesnakes in Colorado. We are interested in the seasonal patterns, social behaviors, and personalities of the Colorado Cam snakes.
RattleResearchers are currently looking into the head twitching seen between snakes on the 2025 livestream. This behavior is understudied and may be a form of communication. Collecting information on these observed interactions within the livestreams will help further our understanding of snake behavior.
Cal Poly students Meghan Chally (2nd-year Biology), Piper Tyssee (2nd-year Microbiology), and Anna Stellakis (4th-year Biology), Travis Biehle (2nd-year Computer Science) are leading the review of 2024 livestream footage along with 8 community scientists! This research supports Owen Bachhuber’s master’s thesis along with future publications of Prairie Rattlesnake behavior.
RattleResearchers talking snakes at one of their biweekly Zoom meetings.
Identifying Snakes
The team is following 23 snakes identified through the 2024 Name a Snake competition. RattleResearchers identify snakes using unique body and head patterns as well as their rattle characteristics. You can meet the Colorado snakes here.
We use a combination of photos with highlighted patterns and drawings to identify snakes from their unique patterns and rattles. Loki has a parallel rattle with 10 segments, meaning he’s been a big snake for a long time!
Meghan, Anna, and Piper are collecting data from the Colorado livestream.
Graphic represention of Loki markings
Photograph of Loki with his unique markings highlighted in green