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 »
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 »
On a balmy August night, Melissa and I headed up a canyon near our home. We had explored this area during the day, but recent night visits revealed orb-weaver spiders, rattlesnakes and vinegaroons hunting under cover of night. Though the pine forest air cools off quickly after sunset, rocky canyonsides hold heat a bit longer,
This article was written by Emily Taylor, PhD, a member of the ASP Board of Directors. 2020 has been a rough year. COVID-19, unemployment, natural disasters, and cancelled travel plans have wreaked havoc on our health and psyches. Snakes haven’t been spared, either. With so many people on lockdown or out of work, there were
Finding Hope in Dark Times Read More »
A snakey love story… In August, 2018, we were blessed by one of the most exciting and interesting wildlife observations in recent memory — and it happened right outside our door! We did our best to film and photo document what we saw, and we are excited to bring the saga back to life in
A Tale of Two Trash Snakes Read More »
This article was written by Gordon M. Burghardt, PhD, a member of the ASP Board of Directors. Sociality in reptiles, particularly snakes, has been long misunderstood and even denied. Today it is well-established that many crocodilians have complex courtship rituals and parental care that is far more extensive than that found in many birds and
Secret Societies: The Social Lives of Reptiles Read More »
A Tale of Two Trash Snakes Part 5 Read: A Tale of Two Trash Snakes Part 4 What would a downpour do to Carol’s scent trail? It’s already been a couple of days since she passed over the ground here – did Daryl miss his chance at love, at least for now? The ground is
Daryl Plays Catch-up Read More »
To celebrate ASP’s fifth birthday, we’re sharing five inspiring stories with you — a new one each week through the end of 2019. Read them all here. Late this summer we visited one of our study sites after a near two-year absence. It was nesting season and though we saw fewer snakes than in years
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