A “mega den” of hundreds of rattlesnakes in Colorado is garnering attention as late summer brings baby snakes into the world. Scientists studying the den are using a livestream video to observe the behavior of these often misunderstood creatures. The public can view the livestream on the Project RattleCam website and assist in identifying individual snakes.
The researchers involved in the project hope to dispel misconceptions about rattlesnakes being inherently dangerous, pointing out that they rarely bite unless provoked. Rattlesnakes are unique among reptiles in that they care for their young and even those of others, with pregnant females protecting and providing warmth to newborn pups.
The den, located on private land, houses as many as 2,000 rattlesnakes during the winter months, with only pregnant females remaining during the warmer seasons. The researchers are keeping the location secret to deter trespassers. This year, they have observed interesting behaviors such as the snakes catching water droplets to drink and reacting to birds attempting to prey on them.
The researchers are studying various aspects of rattlesnake behavior, including the effects of temperature changes and ultraviolet sunlight. The livestream allows them to observe the natural behavior of rattlesnakes without human interference. As summer transitions to fall, some males are returning to the den, and the camera will be turned off until next spring when the snakes re-emerge.
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