A Day in the Life of a Rattlesnake Family

Behavior, Parental care / By

Rattlesnakes take care of their babies.

Yep, they really do. But, what does “care” look like in a snake? Do they feed their young like a mother bird? Do they keep them warm? Do they protect them from predators? With the exception of feeding, rattlesnakes care for their offspring in familiar ways. The following is a timelapse video (taken at 1 minute intervals) that illustrates a typical day for a new rattlesnake family. The large, black snake is Cap Mama, a female Arizona black rattlesnake that gestated with four other females and gave birth in late August to seven neonates. This video was taken when the neonates are just two or three days old.

Now let’s look a little closer at some of the behaviors in the video:

  • Before the neonates emerge for the day, Cap Mama looks out as if making sure it is safe for the neonates to come out. Here she looks toward the camera
    Before the neonates emerge for the day, Cap Mama looks out as if making sure it is safe for the neonates to come out. Here she looks toward the camera…
  • And then she looks away from the camera. We have observed this “lookout” behavior by several different females.
    And then she looks away from the camera. We have observed this “lookout” behavior by several different females.
  • The neonate in the foreground of this photo is starting to stray from the group and Cap Mama notices.
    The neonate in the foreground of this photo is starting to stray from the group and Cap Mama notices.
  • The neonate responds by returning to the group and Cap Mama heads back in as well.
    The neonate responds by returning to the group and Cap Mama heads back in as well.
  • A gentle tap from Cap Mama reminds the neonate to stay with the group.
    A gentle tap from Cap Mama reminds the neonate to stay with the group.
  • In this rattlesnake species, adults are darker than neonates and thus may be able to gain heat easier. By allowing neonates to sit on and near her, Cap Mama may be provisioning her offspring with heat (rattlesnakes are ectotherms: they depend on their environment for heat instead of producing their own like we do). And Cap Mama’s larger size means she’ll garner and release heat, perhaps even into the night when the family is tucked away in their refuge. Keeping warm helps a young snake develop, shed, and get ready to leave the nest and hunt on its own.
    Hanging out on mom.

In this rattlesnake species, adults are darker than neonates and thus may be able to gain heat easier. By allowing neonates to sit on and near her, Cap Mama may be provisioning her offspring with heat (rattlesnakes are ectotherms: they depend on their environment for heat instead of producing their own like we do). And Cap Mama’s larger size means she’ll garner and release heat, perhaps even into the night when the family is tucked away in their refuge. Keeping warm helps a young snake develop, shed, and get ready to leave the nest and hunt on its own.

In this rattlesnake species, adults are darker than neonates and thus may be able to gain heat easier. By allowing neonates to sit on and near her, Cap Mama may be provisioning her offspring with heat (rattlesnakes are ectotherms: they depend on their environment for heat instead of producing their own like we do). And Cap Mama’s larger size means she’ll garner and release heat, perhaps even into the night when the family is tucked away in their refuge. Keeping warm helps a young snake develop, shed, and get ready to leave the nest and hunt on its own.
Cap Mama, Arizona Black Rattlesnake, with her babies piled on top.