ASP changes how people view and treat snakes
ASP changes how people view and treat snakes
Not all snake combat is as gentle as that of the Panamint Rattlesnakes described so beautifully by Ceal in The Art of Gentle Combat. In May 2011, we stumbled upon a Gophersnake love triangle and were shocked by their rough and ruthless tactics. We noticed a long, dark form on the dirt road from afar.
Gophersnakes Play Rough Read More »
Understanding the Non-violent Sparring of Panamint Rattlesnakes – Written and photographed by Ceal Klingler Each spring, after six months of cold weather in the southwesternmost Great Basin Desert, Panamint Rattlesnakes emerge from rocky dens and knot together in the sun to bask, spar, and mate. And each spring, when I observe sparring or “combat rituals”
The Art of Gentle Combat Read More »
Decade of Demystifying Snakes! ASP turns 10 on 16 May 2024. Old Friends: snakes sighted more than 10 years after we first met them! Residents of Sweetwater, Texas received handwritten Rattlesnake Love Letters from children asking for a no-kill roundup. In-person presentations & displays Folks in rural southwest New Mexico and southeast Arizona learned about
2023 The Year in Snakes Read More »
Rattlesnake babies are born alive and stay with mom a week or two until they shed their skin. During this vulnerable time, mom keeps them safe. But at communal nests, pregnant rattlesnakes and visiting males may care for the babies too. Did you know that rattlesnakes give birth to live young and take care of
Rattlesnakes are Awesome Moms! Read More »
Even Awesome Moms Need a Break We first observed babysitting in 2010, when we started studying rattlesnake nesting. Fifteen years later, here’s what we’ve learned about this surprising behavior, based on observations of 43 mamas and litters at 18 rookeries. The most common setup for babysitting is at a rookery with pregnant snakes of varying
Rattlesnake Babysitting Read More »
In a research project led by Masters student Erin Allison, we evaluated how different messaging strategies can improve attitudes about rattlesnakes. We used an online survey to evaluate the perceptions of a diverse group of 1,182 US adults before and after they watched either a relational or instrumental video about rattlesnakes. The relational video showcased
Education Enhances Attitudes About Rattlesnakes Read More »
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