Watch: Newborn rattlesnakes at Colorado 'mega den' are making their live debut (2024)

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A “mega den” of hundreds of rattlesnakes in Colorado is getting even bigger now that late summer is here and babies are being born.

Watch: Newborn rattlesnakes at Colorado 'mega den' are making their live debut (1)

Thanks to livestream video, scientists studying the den on a craggy hillside in Colorado are learning more about these enigmatic — and often misunderstood — reptiles. They're observing as the youngsters, called pups, slither over and between adult females on lichen-encrusted rocks.

The public can watch too on the Project RattleCam website and help with important work including how to tell the snakes apart. Since researchers put their remote camera online in May, several snakes have become known in a chatroom and to scientists by names including “Woodstock,” “Thea” and “Agent 008.”

The live feed, which draws as many as 500 people at a time online, on Thursday showed a tangle of baby snakes with tiny nubs for rattles. They have a lot of growing to do: A rattlesnake adds a rattle segment each time it sheds its skin a couple times a year, on average.

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Watch: Newborn rattlesnakes at Colorado 'mega den' are making their live debut (2)

The project is a collaboration between California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, snake removal company Central Coast Snake Services and Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

By involving the public, the scientists hope to dispel the idea that rattlesnakes are usually fierce and dangerous. In fact, experts say they rarely bite unless threatened or provoked and often are just the opposite.

Rattlesnakes are not only among the few reptiles that care for their young. They even care for the young of others. The adults protect and lend body heat to pups from birth until they enter hibernation in mid-autumn, said Max Roberts, a CalPoly graduate student researcher.

“We regularly see what we like to call ‘babysitting,’ pregnant females that we can visibly see have not given birth, yet are kind of guarding the newborn snakes,” Roberts said.

As many as 2,000 rattlesnakes spend the winter at the location on private land, which the researchers are keeping secret to discourage trespassers. Once the weather warms, only pregnant females remain while the others disperse to nearby territory.

This year, the scientists keeping watch over the Colorado site have observed the rattlesnakes coil up and catch water to drink from the cups formed by their bodies. They’ve also seen how the snakes react to birds swooping in to try to grab a scaly meal.

The highlight of summer is in late August and early September when the rattlesnakes give birth over a roughly two-week period.

Watch: Newborn rattlesnakes at Colorado 'mega den' are making their live debut (4)

“As soon as they're born, they know how to move into the sun or into the shade to regulate their body temperature,” Roberts said.

There are 36 species of rattlesnakes, most of which inhabit the U.S. They range across nearly all states and are especially common in the Southwest. Those being studied now are prairie rattlesnakes, which can be found in much of the central and western U.S. and into Canada and Mexico.

Like other pit viper species but unlike most snakes, rattlesnakes don't lay eggs. Instead, they give birth to live young. Eight is an average-size brood, with the number depending on the snake's size, according to Roberts.

Roberts is studying how temperature changes and ultraviolet sunlight affect snake behavior. Another graduate student, Owen Bachhuber, is studying the family and social relationships between rattlesnakes.

The researchers watch the live feed all day.

“We are interested in studying the natural behavior of rattlesnakes, free from human disturbance. What do rattlesnakes actually do when we're not there?” Roberts said.

Now that the Rocky Mountain summer is cooling, some males have been returning. By November, the camera running on solar and battery power will be turned off until next spring, when the snakes will re-emerge from their “mega den.”

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Watch: Newborn rattlesnakes at Colorado 'mega den' are making their live debut (2024)

FAQs

How many baby rattlesnakes are born at a time? ›

Like other pit viper species but unlike most snakes, rattlesnakes don't lay eggs. Instead, they give birth to live young. Eight is an average-size brood, with the number depending on the snake's size, according to Roberts.

How many rattlesnakes live in one den? ›

Western Rattlesnakes Den Together.

Rattlesnakes living in the mountains this far north use a special strategy for surviving the long, cold winters: they den together in groups that can number in the hundreds.

How long is a newborn rattlesnake? ›

Rattlesnake eggs will stay inside their mother until they hatch. Most of the time there are 8-10 babies born at once and are about 10 inches long. Babies are born venomous but cannot rattle and are often more aggressive than the adults.

What to do if you find a baby rattlesnake? ›

If you encounter a venomous snake in your yard, take it seriously. The snake should be removed to ensure that no one, including pets, gets hurt. Note: This does not mean the snake has to be killed. In many places, you can call animal-control or local police or fire departments to remove the snake.

Do baby rattlesnakes stay close to their mother? ›

Rattlesnake babies typically stay with their mom a week to 10 days, until they shed their skin, he says. “Then they head out into the world on their own.

Do baby snakes stay near their mother? ›

Baby snakes tend to be independent almost immediately after birth. Some stay near their mothers initially, but adult snakes do not provide protection to their offspring. As such, young must capture their own food to survive.

How far will rattlesnakes travel from their den? ›

Timber rattlesnakes den with other snake species during the winter, typically on south-facing slopes under talus or inside rock fissures. After emerging in the spring, timber rattlesnakes migrate up to four miles from their winter den. They typically return to the same den each fall.

What time of day are rattlesnakes most active? ›

While they can be out any time, rattlesnakes are most active in the morning and from dusk into the night. They hunt mice and rodents in darkness because they can sense body heat with special organs on their face.

Which state has the most rattlesnakes? ›

The large majority of species live in the American Southwest and Mexico. Four species may be found east of the Mississippi River, and two in South America. In the United States, the state with the most types of rattlesnakes is Arizona, with 13.

Can you hear a baby rattlesnake? ›

The babies are rattle-less until they shed their first skin, so you won't hear the tell-tale rattle alerting you to their presence. Despite the myth, adult snakes don't always give a warning before striking either so you can't judge your safety by sound alone.

How long can a baby rattlesnake live without food? ›

Rattlesnakes can survive for several months without eating. A recent study showed that snakes can lower their metabolic rates by up to 70 percent, allowing them to survive prolonged periods without food while growing longer nonetheless.

What animals keep rattlesnakes away? ›

Use Natural Predators

Snakes have a few natural predators that can help keep them away. Common snake predators include cats, raccoons, pigs, turkeys, guinea hens, and foxes. Keeping any of these animals around your home will help deter snakes from coming near.

Do rattlesnakes stay in the same area? ›

If their den remains undisturbed, these snakes will return to the same location for years.

Are baby rattlesnakes born without rattles? ›

Young rattlesnakes are born with a small rattle or button and may not properly produce a tail buzz until more segments are developed.

How fast do rattlesnakes reproduce? ›

Rattlesnakes generally take several years to mature, and females usually reproduce only once every three years.

What is a group of baby rattlesnakes called? ›

The collective noun for a group of rattlesnakes is a coil or a rhumba. A group of any kind of snakes can be called a knot, den, pit, nest, or bed of snakes.

How many rattlesnakes are in a litter? ›

A single litter can have three to 13 snakes. Young rattlesnakes resemble adults, except that they have only one button on their tail and may have a stripe from their eyes to their jaws.

Are baby rattlesnakes more aggressive? ›

Q: Is it true that baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adults? A: No, that is one of the many myths about rattlesnakes, says California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Coordinator Laura Patterson.

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