Prairie Rattlers
A Prairie Rattlesnake suns itself on a warm day.
I saw my very first rattlesnake on the day I first saw this property that was to become my home for the next three decades, and counting. There have been many, many sightings since that day, most of which have left me with a sense of wonder and a few that have tested my body’s ability to produce adrenalin at a moment’s notice.
Rattlesnakes get a bad rap from a lot of people but they are fascinating creatures for a bunch of reasons. The trick around here is to be aware of the possibility of running into one at any time when conditions are right for the cold-blooded reptile to be out and about.
Two large rattlers in front of their den in late summer.
We have discovered several dens on our property. There is one in particular that has been in use for years and sits about six feet off our running trail.
A tangle of baby rattlers, left. Shed skin, middle. Adult rattler, right.
For a number of years in a row we were able to watch a dozen or so baby rattlers emerge in late summer. Unlike many snakes, baby rattlers are born live, not hatched from eggs and it seems that the adults will protect the young for several days after birth. The babies are born venomous and must find food on their own so will disperse to hunt three to four days after they first appear.
The clouded blue eye of a molting rattler.
Prairie rattlers live for 15 – 20 years. During that time they shed their skin two or three times a year as they grow, adding a button to their rattle each time they molt. They can be especially dangerous for a week or so during the time they are preparing to shed their skin as their eye coverings become cloudy and their sight is diminished, making them more defensive.
A prairie rattlesnake lies coiled in a shallow hollow in the ground.
I need to be particularly aware of my surroundings if I am out running during the early morning hours of a hot day in mid-summer. This particular rattlesnake, above, chose the middle of my running trail to fashion itself a shallow depression in which to take a cool rest. I was almost on top of it before I realized the flat ground I was about to land on contained a curled up snake!
At least 90% of my rattlesnake encounters are non-events for both parties. The other 10% are reminders that I share this land with a creature that has developed a very efficient method for killing and eating prey and a very effective means of warning everything else away.
If you want to hear more about the prairie rattlesnake, be sure to listen to my podcast by clicking the button below, or by downloading the latest episode from Apple Podcasts or Spotify.