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# Advocates for Snake Preservation

Changing how people view and treat snakes

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.snakes.ngo/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Snake Stories](https://www.snakes.ngo/news/)
- [Save Roadless Forests](https://www.snakes.ngo/roadless/) - The Roadless Rule has protected 58.5 million acres for a quarter century. We have until September 21 to save them. The Roadless Rule, enacted in 2001, sets aside wild areas in our national forests from road-building and industrial logging for wildlife, watershed conservation, and outdoor recreation. In the decades since these forests have enjoyed roadless protections, their
- [Tell FERC to Reroute the Desert Southwest Pipeline](https://www.snakes.ngo/pipeline/) - A new 520-mile gas pipeline could tear through some of the most important riparian areas in the Southwest: the Muleshoe Ranch Preserve and Cooperative Management Area and the Middle and Lower San Pedro River Valley. This isn’t a minor detour. The proposed route runs along I-10 almost the whole way, but veers off to cut
- [April Showers Bring May Flowers; June Showers Bring...](https://www.snakes.ngo/june-showers/) - Saturday afternoon started clouding up and thunderheads formed. I was still skeptical that it would rain, but the clouds and light breeze felt really nice regardless. Then, around 2:30pm, it happened. As I mentioned in my last post, we are in the midst of the hottest, driest part of the year in Arizona. Temperatures keep
- [Snake Relocation is Complex, Problematic, but Misunderstood](https://www.snakes.ngo/relocation/) - - Bryan D. Hughes, Rattlesnake Solutions. Is relocating a snake always a death sentence? No, but it’s complicated, and it certainly can be. Here I’ll discuss some misunderstandings of the practice, what is working, and where there’s room for future study and improvement. This is within the scope of Arizona-native reptiles, specifically rattlesnakes, so relevance
- [Rattlesnake Babysitting](https://www.snakes.ngo/babysitting/) - Rattlesnakes are good mothers that take care of their kids. But every mom needs a day off. So rattlesnakes also care for, babysit, their neighbors' kids!
- [Snakes are NOT Deaf!](https://www.snakes.ngo/snakes-are-not-deaf/) - – Dr Christina Zdenek, Australian Reptile Academy (find her on Instagram @Chris.and.Christina) There is a long-standing myth that snakes are deaf. Presumably this comes from two places: Snakes lack external ear holes, and Snakes often stay still as you walk past them. But neither of these things prove that snakes are deaf. For example, dolphins and
- [Books for Buzz Readers](https://www.snakes.ngo/books-for-buzz-readers/) - - Gordon M. Burghardt, PhD, Board of Directors, ASP Three recent books have added to our knowledge and appreciation of snakes. The most general, inexpensive, and accessible is Slither: How Nature’s Most Maligned Creatures Illuminate our World, by Stephen S. Hall (2025, Grand Central Publishing, New York). Comprised of eight chapters and a historical epilogue,
- [Roger Repp](https://www.snakes.ngo/roger-repp/) - Herp King of Southern Arizona - Jeff Smith & Melissa Amarello, Co-founders, ASP “Under NO circumstances are you to touch the snakes at this site. Ever.” Roger Repp’s proviso reverberated in our heads above the happy hour din at Bob Dobbs. We were grab-'n-tag field biologists, schooled in the old ways of herpetology, and put
- [Terry Arthur Johnson](https://www.snakes.ngo/reptilist/) - For over 40 years Terry enlightened and endeared people of all ages to the beauty and importance of reptiles and amphibians – especially through his job in mining and as an engineering supervisor in eastern Arizona.
- [Snake Longevity](https://www.snakes.ngo/longevity/) - The Age-Old Old-Age Question How long do they live? is one of the most common questions we get from the public about snakes. It might seem simple to estimate, but lifespan is influenced by many factors. I love this question because it is a good lead-in to ecological concepts and, of course, stories of individual
- [Willie’s Woe](https://www.snakes.ngo/willies-woe/) - We first met Willie, a Black-tailed Rattlesnake, in June 2012, hunting on a massive downed Cottonwood Tree. We didn’t handle or mark him, but Jeff got excellent photographs.
- [Education Enhances Attitudes About Rattlesnakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/ed-enhances-attitudes/) - 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
- [Rattlesnakes are Awesome Moms!](https://www.snakes.ngo/moms/) - Are rattlesnakes good mothers? Do they take care of their kids? YES! Learn more about snake parental care and how Rattlesnakes are Awesome Moms.
- [2023 The Year in Snakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/2023yis/) - 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
- [The Art of Gentle Combat](https://www.snakes.ngo/gentle-combat/) - 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”
- [Gophersnakes Play Rough](https://www.snakes.ngo/gophersnakes-play-rough/) - 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.
- [Snakes From A Plane](https://www.snakes.ngo/snakes-from-a-plane/) - The Legend Of Airdropped Rattlesnakes - Alex Megerle Do state game agencies really introduce rattlesnakes by tossing them out of aircraft? Three experts weigh in on the facts, origin, and future of the enduring story. Throughout a herpetology career that has spanned more than 25 years at the Kentucky Reptile Zoo, biologist Kristin Wiley has
- [No More Snake Rodeo!](https://www.snakes.ngo/no-more-snake-rodeo/) - The unethical slaughter and waste of wildlife at the Lake Providence Snake Rodeo IS OVER. Together we stopped a 60-year old snake-killing contest!
- [World Snake Day 2025](https://www.snakes.ngo/world-snake-day-2025/) - July 16 is World Snake Day: an opportunity to celebrate snakes and raise awareness about their preservation. While snakes are threatened by many of the same issues that affect all wildlife (habitat loss, climate change, and disease), negative attitudes toward snakes may be the biggest barrier to their preservation because it often impedes efforts to address
- [Thirsty Snakes? Give ‘em a Drink!](https://www.snakes.ngo/thirsty-snakes/) - This article was written by Emily Taylor, PhD, a member of the ASP Board of Directors. Research should be fun! If it isn’t, you’re not doing it right. That’s what I tell my students, at least. As field biologists, we are privileged to conduct research in the great outdoors on the wild animals that we
- [The Shocking Truth About Mohaves](https://www.snakes.ngo/shocking-truth-about-mohaves/) - (they don’t want to bite you) - Alex Megerle On May 16th, 2021, I hopped on a flight from Newark to Tucson. A few hours later, in an unfamiliar airport in Arizona, I met a professor I’d never spoken to in person, linked up with a fellow volunteer I’d only communicated with via text, and
- [From Debilitating Fear to Love](https://www.snakes.ngo/dolores/) - My Saga With Snakes - Dolores Proubasta Fear of Snakes is one of the most common phobias. From mild repulsion to extreme reactions — from screaming to fainting — most people react negatively to Snakes. Is it because they are so different from the rest of us vertebrates, gliding effortlessly despite the absence of limbs
- [How to Help Snakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/how-to-help-snakes/) - and other wild animals too! Don’t use bird netting Avoid glue traps and poison Shoot snakes with a camera Keep pets indoors or under control Share positive stories about snakes Drive carefully, watch for small animals Respect and appreciate wildlife from a distance Make adoption the first option for your next pet Don’t buy wild-caught
- [Lovers and Fighters](https://www.snakes.ngo/lovers-and-fighters/) - The male combat "dance" of snakes - rattlesnakes among them - is an affair wherein the obvious isn't the truth, and the truth is stranger than the obvious (Laurence Klauber, in Rattlesnakes, p. 703) How do snakes fight? And why do they do it? When we think of combat, graphic images of violent competition come
- [Squamate Sociality](https://www.snakes.ngo/squamate-sociality/) - Surprisingly like birds and mammals This post is a part of the Reptile and Amphibian Blogging Network’s (RAmBlN) #HerpsAdapt event in honor of Darwin Day. RAmBlN is showcasing the remarkable evolutionary abilities of reptiles and amphibians by posting 1-2 blog posts per day 12-16 February. See the full list of posts on our website and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates. Back
- [Learning to Love Your Neighbors](https://www.snakes.ngo/mary-ann/) - A few years back, a couple in our town called us about a Black-tailed Rattlesnake that had settled in beside their house. Les and Mary Ann wanted us to move her somewhere everyone would be comfortable with. This well-mannered snake presented a perfect opportunity for them to see what snakes really do: she was there
- [Sharing](https://www.snakes.ngo/sharing/) - Ever since we saw Roger Repp's talk at the Tucson Herpetological Society, Burrow Buddies — or Not?, we've been fascinated by different reptile species sharing shelter sites. Multiple species often share the same overwintering site; we shared this fun example here back in April: At another den, we have seen Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes, Spiny Lizards,
- [Jarchow Conservation Award](https://www.snakes.ngo/jarchow-conservation-award/) - The following is reprinted from the Sonoran Herpetologist, the Tucson Herpetological Society’s membership publication. See the original here. And the 11th Recipients of the Jarchow Conservation Award are: Jeff Smith and Melissa Amarello, Advocates for Snake Preservation (ASP) On the evening of 10 November 2016, the nine previous recipients of the Jarchow Conservation Award (JCA),
- [Survivors](https://www.snakes.ngo/survivors/) - When baby rattlesnakes disperse from their nest, we can never be sure we’ll see them again. Here, we share stories of babies that survived their first winter.
- [ASP at Open Space Brewing: 18 October 2024](https://www.snakes.ngo/snakes-at-open-space-brewing/) - When: Friday 18 October 2024 Where: Open Space Brewing in Santa Clara, NM Directions to Open Space What: Presentation & Meetup with ASP The Nurturing Nature of Rattlesnakes Ready to explore the surprising world of rattlesnake families? Through engaging vignettes and videos, you’ll experience a day in the life of these remarkable reptiles and learn how
- [Just Let Me Be](https://www.snakes.ngo/just-let-me-be/) - This poem was written by Jim Vanas, who also took the photographs in Nevada. Don’t touch me, don’t catch me Please just let me be. Observe me, enjoy me. I’m wild, and I am free. I’m a turtle, a lizard, a snake, a little frog. I’m not a pet you keep at home, your cat
- [A Day in the Life of a Rattlesnake Family](https://www.snakes.ngo/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-rattlesnake-family/) - Rattlesnakes are good mothers that take care of their babies. But, what does "care" look like in a snake? Do they feed their young like a mother bird?
- [Removing the Blinders](https://www.snakes.ngo/removing-the-blinders/) - Many scientists assumed reptiles weren’t capable of certain things. They didn’t ask the questions and missed some interesting observations, like parental care.
- [The Nurturing Nature of Rattlesnakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/nurturing-rattlesnakes/) - Are rattlesnakes good mothers? Do they take care of their kids? TLDR: YES! Learn more about snake parental care in the Nurturing Nature of Rattlesnakes.
- [A Tale of Two Trash Snakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/tale-of-two-trash-snakes/) - 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
- [Get to Know Your Neighbors](https://www.snakes.ngo/id-class/) - Learn how to identify individual snakes by their natural markings in this online workshop. Have you ever wondered how we identify individual snakes? Over weeks, years, and even decades without laying a hand on them? Watch this workshop to learn how from the real expert — the one who taught us this method and has
- [10 Surprising Snake Facts](https://www.snakes.ngo/10-facts/) - Happy ASPiversary! We launched Advocates for Snake Preservation on Endangered Species Day (May 16) in 2014. To celebrate a Decade of Demystifying of Snakes, here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about snakes. 1. There are over 3,000 species of snakes. They range in size from Barbados Threadsnakes, who weigh less than a paperclip
- [Mythical Mohave Rattlesnake](https://www.snakes.ngo/mohave/) - Mohave Greens have a notorious reputation in the West -- but is it deserved? In short, NOPE. Read on to learn more about Mohave Rattlesnakes. Skip to: Identification Mojave, Mohave, Greens? Venom Behavior New Mexico References How to Identify a Mohave Mohave Rattlesnakes are easily confused with Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes, who are more widespread and
- [World Snake Day 2024!](https://www.snakes.ngo/wsd-2024/) - Coexisting with the Bushmaster in Northwestern Ecuador On World Snake Day, July 16, 2024, we were joined by María Elena Barragán-Paladines. She shared her project, Coexisting with the Bushmaster in Northwestern Ecuador. Watch the recording here or on our YouTube channel. Follow and support this project on Instagram If you liked this presentation, you'll love
- [Old Friend](https://www.snakes.ngo/5y5s04/) - 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
- [Snakes Are Good Neighbors](https://www.snakes.ngo/good-neighbors-greater-impact/) - How viper* behavior increases their effect on prey populations *Vipers are a family of venomous snakes that includes Copperheads, Cottonmouths (Water Moccasins), and Rattlesnakes in North America. The sound of domestic cats fighting is probably familiar to many readers. Like most predators, cats defend their turf and the resources within. Prey is often scarce and
- [Happy Mother's Day!](https://www.snakes.ngo/happy-mothers-day/) - There's something special about moms, right? So, today's post is about an under-appreciated group of moms (you guessed it), Arizona Black Rattlesnakes! Human moms - you think you have it tough? Rattlesnake maternal duties may only last a couple weeks, but during that time they may have to protect their kids from extreme temperatures, a
- [Baby Wads!](https://www.snakes.ngo/baby-wads/) - With more surface area to their volumes than adults, newborn rattlesnakes heat and cool at faster rates. Piling into a wad reduces the amount of air-exposed skin and may blunt temperature swings. At its most efficient, cooler babies from the bottom of the wad clamber to the top to get sun and heat from their
- [Secret Societies: The Social Lives of Reptiles](https://www.snakes.ngo/reptile-sociality/) - 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
- [Snakes Are Evolutionary Marvels!](https://www.snakes.ngo/snakes-are-evolutionary-marvels/) - Snakes Are Everything #10 Hiral Naik, a snake ecologist that works at the interface between science and conservation, will speak about some of the unique traits that snakes possess that allow them to inhabit and adapt to different ecosystems. From fangs and teeth to how they conceal, snakes truly are evolutionary marvels. Learn more about
- [Finding Hope in Dark Times](https://www.snakes.ngo/finding-hope/) - 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
- [Emerging With Care](https://www.snakes.ngo/emerging-with-care/) - A snake’s scaled snout pokes forth from a crag recess and feels its first direct rays of sun in months. Her body remains in passage, still nearly as cold as the contents of your refrigerator. After months in her dark retreat, her now-warming head, the seat of most information sensing and processing, must be overwhelmed
- [Changing Fear to Fascination With Familiarity](https://www.snakes.ngo/fear-to-fascination/) - This article was written by Jeff Smith & Melissa Amarello, Co-founders, ASP "In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught." Baba Dioum (1968) “How do people understand something that terrifies them?“ Whitney Barlow Robles 2021 In a
- [The Whiptails Strike Back](https://www.snakes.ngo/whiptails-strike-back/) - Around our home, the most commonly seen snakes are Eastern Patch-noseds, the high-elevation sister species of Western Patch-nosed Snakes. Like their lowland cousins, Whiptail Lizards are a staple of their known diet, so we assumed that was what the one we spotted was after as he diligently excavated a burrow in our yard one June
- [Did You Know... Some Snakes Can Change Color?](https://www.snakes.ngo/color-change/) - Pictured here is Glendy, a male Arizona Black Rattlesnake, at his darkest and lightest. We presented a poster on this phenomena for the Snake Ecology Group in 2009 that you can see here.
- [Snakes Are Neighbors!](https://www.snakes.ngo/snakes-are-neighbors/) - Snakes Are Everything #9 Bryan Hughes will discuss snakes living in and around human development: who thrives, who has no tolerance for urban environments, and what does sustainable co-habitation between snakes and homeowners look like? Bryan founded Rattlesnake Solutions LLC in 2010 to save snakes from shovels and shotguns and each year they resolve hundreds
- [2022 The Year in Snakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/2022/) - Article in theNew York Timeson social reptiles! Online classes and workshops In-person displays& presentations Hotline calls & texts Snake rescues Coexisting With Pitvipers Symposium! Signatures submitted to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to End The Lake Providence Snake Rodeo Interactions on Facebook and Instagram Hours watched on our YouTube channel People learned about
- [Allie Rose Radabaugh](https://www.snakes.ngo/allie-rose-radabaugh/) - #SnakeHero This summer we presented a Snake Hero Award to Allie Rose for her outreach on behalf of a Dekay’s Brownsnake. When this tiny, defenseless snake showed up in her school yard, students and teachers panicked and the snake paid the ultimate (and unfortunately common) price. This snake lover turned her broken heart to action
- [Kathy Bricker](https://www.snakes.ngo/kathy-bricker/) - #SnakeHero We lost an amazing champion for snakes, wildlife, and wild places in 2022. Kathy Bricker not only worked with international conservation organizations, but started local efforts to preserve open space, recycle, connect people with nature, and raise awareness about birds and environmental issues. But it wasn’t just relatively popular and well-known issues that caught
- [2021 The Year in Snakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/2021/) - Skype a Scientist classes Field trips and snake rescues Hours watched of season one of Snakes Are Everything! In-person classroom and library presentations Online classes and workshops Peer-reviewed paper published Interactions on Facebook and Instagram Hours watched on our YouTube channel People learned about snakes by visiting our website -- 38% more than last year!
- [Stop Snake Slaughter at Rattlesnake Roundups](https://www.snakes.ngo/stop-snake-slaughter/) - WARNING: the following video is graphic and violent – it shows what happens at a rattlesnake roundup. Each year, tens of thousands of rattlesnakes are taken from the wild to be displayed and slaughtered for entertainment and profit at rattlesnake roundups. Professional hunters, not bound by ‘bag’ or ‘take’ limits, remove snakes from their native
- [Tragedy or love story? A tale of two Gilas.](https://www.snakes.ngo/tragedy-or-love-story/) - WARNING! Today's post is not about snakes, but because 1) this is such an awesome story, and 2) Gilas have always been honorary snakes in my mind, I decided to include it here. Our friend Jeff Servoss works for USFWS and in his spare time, does outreach for snakes (how cool is that?). He shared
- [Congratulations Dr. Fill, #SnakeHero!](https://www.snakes.ngo/congrats-dr-fill/) - We're delighted to congratulate our friend and #SnakeHero Dr. Jennifer Fill on the successful defense of her doctoral dissertation! In addition to being a dedicated scientist, Jen LOVES snakes and we expect she'll use her degree to help us all understand more about these magnificent animals. Back in 2013, Jen visited Arizona and wrote the
- [Snake Heroes: Rattlesnake Saved From Netting](https://www.snakes.ngo/snake-vs-netting/) - Today we introduce a new series, Snake Heroes, where we’ll feature stories of people helping snakes. Tell us your #SnakeHero Story A few weeks ago we got a frantic call from one of supporters, Cindy, who had found a mohave rattlesnake stuck in bird netting. Cindy had done what she could without putting herself in
- [Social media matters](https://www.snakes.ngo/social-media-matters/) - Although I cite social media as one of ASP's main methods of education, I often question whether we're just preaching to the choir. Our followers probably already like snakes, or they wouldn't follow Snake Advocate, right? Even if that's true, you never know what could make a difference, even save a life. Following our first
- [Stuck, frightened, starved, thirsty... for days](https://www.snakes.ngo/glue-traps/) - Today we present the latest in our #SnakeHero series and commend our friend Brandon Thomas La Forest, for rescuing this baby: This newborn baby western diamondback rattlesnake was stuck, frightened, starved, and thirsty... FOR 3 DAYS before the homeowner contacted the Arizona Herpetological Association. With much care and vegetable oil, Brandon was able to free
- [Snake Preservation Art Project](https://www.snakes.ngo/snake-preservation-art-project/) - We were thrilled to receive a phone call from two young artists and snake enthusiasts from Kentucky a few months ago. They wanted to share their snake preservation art project with us: Snake preservation art project by Henry and Caleb. "The snake is made out of sticks and leaves to symbolize how snakes are a
- [Glue Traps are Evil](https://www.snakes.ngo/glue-traps-are-evil/)
- [Snake Uses iPhone?](https://www.snakes.ngo/snake-uses-iphone/) - When we encountered this Rock Rattlesnake a few weeks ago, we were aiming for a unique shot, but ended up with something completely unexpected and difficult to explain.
- [A Rattlesnake Helper?](https://www.snakes.ngo/a-rattlesnake-helper/) - Priscilla, Lois, and Arli (Arizona Black Rattlesnakes) spent their pregnancy together at a rookery from May through August, 2010. Arli moved away to a private nest shortly before giving birth, while Priscilla and Lois stayed at the rookery. On 30 August 2010 we observed Priscilla (pregnant adult female) discouraging House (neonate / newborn) from potential
- [Snakes Are Feared!](https://www.snakes.ngo/snakes-are-feared/) - Snakes Are Everything #8 Dr. Andrew Hoffman discusses the widespread fear of snakes among the general public and the role social media is playing in amplifying these fears. He combines his personal observations from snake research and outreach, recent findings in the social sciences, and his experience in creating and growing the social media channel
- [Indiscriminate Shooting of Native Wildlife Celebrated at This Weekend’s Lake Providence Snake Rodeo](https://www.snakes.ngo/rodeo-2022/) - Dozens of helpful, harmless snakes will be shot this weekend at the Lake Providence Snake Rodeo in northeastern Louisiana. Advocates for Snake Preservation (ASP), a charity dedicated to changing how people view and treat snakes, and Louisiana Amphibian and Reptile Enthusiasts (L.A.R.E.), a group fostering appreciation and conservation of reptiles and amphibians in The Pelican
- [Western Patch-nosed Snake Digs for Her Dinner](https://www.snakes.ngo/digs-for-dinner/) - Have you ever watched a Whiptail Lizard run from you at lightning speed and wondered how anything ever manages to catch and eat them? Well, I’m about to tell you. One summer afternoon, I noticed a Western Patch-nosed Snake stretched out in the bare soil next to a walking path. She immediately continued on her
- [Snakes Are Thoughtful Animals!](https://www.snakes.ngo/snakes-are-thoughtful/) - Snakes Are Everything #6 For Episode 6 of Snakes Are Everything, we are joined by Gordon M. Burghardt, long time student of reptile behavior and co-author of this year’s book, The Secret Social Lives of Reptiles. How do snakes experience the world? Hard to study but answers are coming in, including some just published research
- [Snakes Are Survivors!](https://www.snakes.ngo/snakes-are-survivors/) - Snakes Are Everything #7 We're kicking off Season 2 of Snakes Are Everything with Dr. Erika Nowak, who will discuss the science of snake translocation: data from rattlesnake studies, why snakes respond the way they do, how to improve outcomes for those deemed "nuisances," and implications for other snakes, including introductions and repatriations of threatened
- [Love in the Rocks](https://www.snakes.ngo/love-in-the-rocks/) - 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,
- [Snakes Are Dangerous!](https://www.snakes.ngo/snakes-are-dangerous/) - Snakes Are Everything #4 For Episode 4 of Snakes Are Everything, we were joined by Harry Greene, who told us about the 75 million-year long deadly dialog between snakes and primates. Learn more about Harry's adventures in Tracks and Shadows: Field Biology as Art Green View: Research reflections from Harry W. Greene Crossing boundaries: when
- [Snakes Are Awesome!](https://www.snakes.ngo/snakes-are-awesome/) - Snakes Are Everything #1 For the premiere of Snakes Are Everything, we were joined by Jesús Rivas, the undisputed expert on Anacondas, to talk about these awesomest of snakes! Learn more about Jesús Rivas and his work with Anacondas at The Land of the Anaconda. Learn more about this series and register to get notified
- [Snakes Are Misunderstood!](https://www.snakes.ngo/snakes-are-misunderstood/) - Snakes Are Everything #5 For Episode 5 of Snakes Are Everything, we were joined by Mike Cardwell, MS, champion of the most misunderstood snake in North America: the Mohave Rattlesnake! Everyone has questions about Mohaves and Mike has answers -- plus some hot-off-the-press research news. Learn more in Mike's new book: The Mohave Rattlesnake and
- [Snakes Are Artsy!](https://www.snakes.ngo/snakes-are-artsy/) - Snakes Are Everything #2 For Episode 2 of Snakes Are Everything, we were joined by Emma Hsiao to talk about the intersection of science, conservation, and art! ♥️🐍 Get the Tale of Scales playing cards! Learn more about Emma Hsiao and check out her portfolio on her website. Check our Emma's designs for ASP in
- [Snakes Are Charismatic!](https://www.snakes.ngo/snakes-are-charismatic/) - Snakes Are Everything #3 For Episode 3 of Snakes Are Everything, we were joined by Dr. Emily Taylor, aka SnakeyMama, for a very exciting announcement about how YOU can get involved in snake research! Be a Community Scientist: Join Project Rattlecam! Get Project Rattlecam Swag (& support ASP) Central Coast Snake Services Physiological Ecology of
- [World Snake Day 2020](https://www.snakes.ngo/world-snake-day-2020/) - Happy World Snake Day! July 16 is World Snake Day: an opportunity to celebrate snakes and raise awareness about their conservation. While snakes are threatened by many of the same issues that affect all wildlife (habitat loss, climate change, and disease), negative attitudes toward snakes may be the biggest barrier to their conservation because it
- [Wildlife Slaughter Persists at Rattlesnake Roundups Despite Conservation Efforts](https://www.snakes.ngo/slaughter-at-roundups/) - Science does not support claims that roundups are required to prevent rattlesnake overpopulation. Each year, tens of thousands of rattlesnakes are taken from the wild to be displayed and slaughtered for entertainment and profit at rattlesnake roundups. Promoted as folksy, family-friendly fun, these events foster disrespect for native wildlife and the natural world, and the
- [Social crawlies converge](https://www.snakes.ngo/crawlies-converge/) - This post is a part of the Reptile and Amphibian Blogging Network’s (RAmBlN) #CrawliesConverge. RAmBlN is showcasing convergent evolution in reptiles and amphibians.. See the full list of posts on our website. My favorite example of convergent evolution is that between old (e.g., lappet-faced vulture) and new (e.g., turkey vulture) world vultures. Both groups of
- [Top Ten Tips for a Safe Snake Season](https://www.snakes.ngo/10tips-safe-snake-season/) - Be aware of your surroundings, and there’s no need to beware of snakes. Snake season is here, but that's no reason to avoid the outdoors. Enjoy nature, wildlife, and stay safe with our Top Tips for a Safe Snake Season: Do not approach, handle, move, or kill snakes – most bites happen in these situations!Use lights
- [Our Negative Attitude Toward Snakes is Their Biggest Hurdle](https://www.snakes.ngo/wsd2018/) - “Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes?” – Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark Humans often fear what they don’t understand and to most, snakes are a mystery. Snakes rely on crypsis so even when traversing through their world, we rarely see them. This void of direct knowledge is filled by myth and
- [Rattled](https://www.snakes.ngo/rattled/) - I wind under oaks,not looking for dust scallops,not listening to leaf song,lost in brain chatter. Buzz. Red diamonds.I recoil in respect.She is faded to match late summer(except for the shock of black and white over her rattle),bent into defense, waitingfor a better venom victim thanunswallowable me. We do not blink. My thanks are awkward:me a
- [Using Social Interactions of Snakes to Achieve Conservation (podcast)](https://www.snakes.ngo/snake-talk-podcast/) - Chris Jenkins interviews ASP's Executive Director, Melissa Amarello, on episode 14 of the Snake Talk podcast. We discussed ASP's research on rattlesnake social behavior, how we use that information to change the public’s perception of snakes, and how we work in the advocacy arena using our work on rattlesnake roundups as an example.
- [Need good news? Here you go!](https://www.snakes.ngo/march-2020-enews/) - Wow, the world has changed since our last message. Normally I'd be busy right now preparing for outreach events, festivals, and classes, but they've all been postponed (or we're trying to figure out how to offer them virtually). So we're pivoting to new work and focus. You're probably doing something similar. What would you like
- [World Snake Day 2015](https://www.snakes.ngo/wsd2015/) - July 16 is World Snake Day! While snakes are threatened by many of the same issues that affect all wildlife (habitat loss, climate change, and disease), negative attitudes toward snakes may be the biggest barrier to their conservation because it often impedes efforts to address other threats. So do your part by spreading positive messages
- [Sigma vs. the Squirrel](https://www.snakes.ngo/sigma-vs-the-squirrel/) - This video captures Sigma’s family’s first day together (warning: its kinda long, 4 minutes). Watch for the squirrel’s appearance at 12:14PM. The squirrel does not return (that we can see) the following day and the family spends most of it on the surface: Timelapse video of 8 September. The family immediately disappears; Sigma reemerges only
- [Snake Peeks](https://www.snakes.ngo/snake-peeks/) - Even where snakes are common, they can be difficult to observe because they are shy and easily disturbed. Through good fortune and patience we've been able to record brief moments in the lives of wild snakes. Snake Peeks, our new video series on YouTube and Instagram, brings you glimpses of the daily lives of
- [Daryl Finds Carol!](https://www.snakes.ngo/daryl-finds-carol/) - A Tale of Two Trash Snakes Part 6 Read: A Tale of Two Trash Snakes Part 5 After a late night of surveilling wild snakes, I get outside mid-morning on the off-chance I can find one of our subjects sunning in the damp vegetation. With all the difficulty we’ve had in keeping up with them
- [Rattlesnake Romance](https://www.snakes.ngo/rattlesnake-romance/) - At a certain time of year, a male snake focuses his efforts on breeding. He moves long distances in search of potential mates (a video of this behavior, scent-trailing, can be seen here). However, finding a female is only the first step; now he must convince her to mate with him. Jaydin courting Persephone (Black-tailed
- [Respect and Appreciation for ALL](https://www.snakes.ngo/respect-appreciation-for-all/) - ASP was founded to fight fear and hatred; of snakes, yes, but as Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." We recognize that until all humans are treated with respect, our mission cannot be realized. Thus, we support all who promote compassion and oppose fear and hate. Our path forward
- [World Snake Day 2016](https://www.snakes.ngo/wsd2016/) - Happy World Snake Day! Be a #SnakeHero -- Share this video from our friends at Planet Experts to speak out for snakes today (and everyday)! Want to know more? Check out these posts for stories, photos, and videos of cool snake behavior discussed in the video. Social Behavior Parental Care Babysitting Combat
- [The Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup is a Tradition That Needs to Change](https://www.snakes.ngo/npr-sweetwater-2020/) - This is our response to an article posted on NPR about the 2020 Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup. If you would like to respond, feel free to use any of our text here or roundup facts from our FAQ. You can email the article's author, contact NPR to comment on something you read, or ask NPR’s Public
- [Drinking](https://www.snakes.ngo/drinking/) - Drinking is a behavior rarely seen in wild snakes. In fact, some would say that snakes don't need to drink. While it is rare to see this behavior, snakes do drink and likely need water in addition to what they acquire from their food. How important drinking is to snakes became very clear to me
- [Daryl Prowls](https://www.snakes.ngo/daryl-prowls/) - A Tale of Two Trash Snakes Part 4 Read: A Tale of Two Trash Snakes Part 3 The day Carol showed up, we checked under the truck bed liner to find Daryl still coiled in a hunting posture under its downhill edge. “There are two lepidus in the yard...” we would say to one another
- [Stopping Snake Slaughter at Rattlesnake Roundups](https://www.snakes.ngo/5y5s01/) - To celebrate ASP's fifth birthday, we're sharing five inspiring stories with you -- a new one each week through the end of the year. You've probably heard that Facebook is matching $7 million in donations today for Giving Tuesday. While we don't expect to get that match (it goes fast to the biggest organizations), we
- [Daryl Plays Catch-up](https://www.snakes.ngo/daryl-plays-catch-up/) - 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
- [Welcome to the Snake House](https://www.snakes.ngo/5y5s05/) - Here's the final installment in our series of five inspiring stories to celebrate ASP's fifth birthday (read them all here): 40 Rattlesnakes Discovered in Couple’s Shed! Usually headlines like that are followed by a story detailing how miraculously no one was hurt before the snakes were inevitably removed or killed. This is not that story.
- [Keeping Wildlife Management Science-Based](https://www.snakes.ngo/5y5s03/) - 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. Snakes are threatened by the same issues that affect all wildlife (e.g., climate chaos, habitat loss), but negative attitudes may be the biggest barrier to their conservation because
- [Face to Face for Snakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/5y5s02/) - 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. This past summer at the farmers’ market, a little boy ran up and hugged me. At first I thought it was a case of mistaken identity, but then
- [Carol Stays for Seconds](https://www.snakes.ngo/carol-seconds/) - A Tale of Two Trash Snakes Part 3 Read: A Tale of Two Trash Snakes Part 2 The day Carol revealed herself to us, consuming a whiptail on our doorstep, she ended up on the far side of the garage, under an old metal sheet. As night fell, I cast a dim light under her
- [Secrets of Snakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/secrets-of-snakes/) - The heart of ASP's work is education using stories to illustrate cool snake behavior and busting myths and misconceptions when answering questions about snakes. Although they tend to change over the years, at any given time people have the same questions: "Are rattlesnakes rattling less?" "Are babies more dangerous than adults?" "How do you tell
- [Carol Comes for Dinner](https://www.snakes.ngo/carol-dinner/) - A Tale of Two Trash Snakes Part 2 Read: A Tale of Two Trash Snakes Part 1 The bike ride was hard, and now I was hungry. I set up the solar oven outside our front entrance to preheat, and flopped onto the couch. Not 10 minutes had gone by when I returned outside with
- [Daryl Saves](https://www.snakes.ngo/daryl-saves/) - A Tale of Two Trash Snakes Part 1 Well into our second summer, we didn’t have much hope left that we’d moved to serpent’s paradise. We had traded the city for the Gila National Forest with high hopes of snakes on our doorstep, but with each passing, snakeless day, we questioned whether our forested, northern
- [Giving Thanks 2018](https://www.snakes.ngo/giving-thanks-2018/) - This year 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 series of upcoming posts.
- [Year of the snake (family)](https://www.snakes.ngo/year-of-snake/) - As I reflected on my favorite snake moments of 2013, I realized we hadn't shared the best story of all! We added Luna and Cat to our study at Muleshoe in 2012 for one reason - we wanted to observe maternal care in Arizona black rattlesnakes at our new site. Despite all we've seen, mother
- [Snake season is here!](https://www.snakes.ngo/snake-season-is-here/) - Last month we told you about the western diamond-backed rattlesnake den we recently 'discovered' at preserve headquarters. Well, this past week has been a busy one for our rattlesnake neighbors. We have seen about a half dozen adult males and females hanging out and/or dispersing from their den. Here are some highlights: In the following
- [Countdown to Snake Count: 3…](https://www.snakes.ngo/countdown-to-snake-count-3/) - By far the most commonly seen snakes at Muleshoe headquarters, and most places where they live, are western diamond-backed rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox, hereafter diamondbacks). They are wide-ranging, found in a variety of habitats, and eat pretty much anything that fits in their mouth. They also don't seem to mind humans moving into their space; several
- [Off with a bang!](https://www.snakes.ngo/bang/) - We arrived at Muleshoe Ranch at ~13:45 to meet with the manager and finalize plans for our new project. We are hoping to find 10 rattlesnakes in the next couple weeks: two western diamond-backed (Crotalus atrox), two black-tailed (C. molossus), and six Arizona blacks (C. cerberus). We got the grand tour of the ranch, including
- [Ménage à trois (part 2)](https://www.snakes.ngo/menage-a-trois-part-2/) - (if you haven't already, see part 1) When we left our 3 gophersnakes, Bluto had just interrupted courtship between Popeye and Olive Oyl and was biting Popeye repeatedly along his body. Popeye released his bite-grip on Olive Oyl and she fled so fast that we were unable to follow. Bluto continued biting Popeye, making him
- [Ménage à trois (part 1)](https://www.snakes.ngo/menage-a-trois-part-1/) - 29 May 2011 – House Rock Valley – Northern ArizonaIn 1996, The Peregrine Fund reintroduced California condors to northern Arizona. Once down to a mere 22 captives, there are now nearly 200 condors flying free in the southwestern US. We visited northern Arizona in hopes of finding snakes beneath soaring condors. We learned of a
- [Muir's evolution on rattlesnakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/muir-on-snakes/) - It upsets us to see photos and stories of people killing snakes. And it's very easy to respond with hate. But fostering compassion for snakes means being compassionate toward people too - even (especially) when it's hard. Many people genuinely believe they are performing a public service by killing snakes, especially venomous ones. It's up
- [Dear New York Times, please give rattlesnakes a fair shake](https://www.snakes.ngo/nyt-letter/) - Recently the New York Times published an article covering the debate in Texas over the potential ban on gassing rattlesnakes. Unfortunately they did a terrible job. What follows is the long version of our letter to the editor in response to this article (what we would have written if letters weren't limited to 150 words).
- [Snake Town Hall](https://www.snakes.ngo/snake-town-hall/) - For Immediate Release Contact: Dr. David A. Steen Organization: Auburn University Museum of Natural History Email: LivingAlongsideWildlife@gmail.com BIOLOGISTS TAKE TO TWITTER TO ADVOCATE FOR SNAKES A team of experts answer public questions about our slithering friends [row] [column md="6"] Snakes play a vital role in the environment, but are also the subject of unfounded fears
- [Ban rattlesnake gassing in Texas!](https://www.snakes.ngo/ban-snake-gassing/) - Each spring, festivals are held throughout Texas in which thousands of rattlesnakes are kidnapped from their dens, kept without adequate food or water, tortured, and finally killed for entertainment and profit (find out more at RattlesnakeRoundups.com). If you have ever been out looking for snakes, or even spent time in rattlesnake habitat, you've probably noticed
- [January 2019 enews](https://www.snakes.ngo/january-2019-enews/) - We are overwhelmed and humbled by your generosity. In November and December you gave us $3000 to promote compassionate conservation and coexistence with snakes! Surface coal mining is likely destroying timber rattlesnake habitat. Researchers found that areas preferred by timber rattlesnakes are also ideal for coal mining. Another reason to support wildlife-friendly solar?
- [We're back!!!](https://www.snakes.ngo/were-back/) - OK, I (melissa) am the only one who has been gone, but that meant no blog updates. I've spent the last month finishing up fieldwork at our other project in central Arizona. And my how things changed at Muleshoe while I was gone! When I left, snakes were just starting to come out; now things
- [Help Save Nevada’s Reptiles](https://www.snakes.ngo/save-nevadas-reptiles/) - UPDATE: Thanks to your letters and comments at the meeting, commercial reptile collection has been BANNED in Nevada! The state of Nevada currently allows the unlimited commercial collection of reptiles, a practice which has removed almost half a million reptiles from Nevada’s public lands over the past thirty years. Nevada is the only state in
- [Bluffers & Cowards](https://www.snakes.ngo/bluffers-cowards/) - Snakes are first cowards, then bluffers, and last of all warriors (Pope, C.H. 1958. Snakes Alive and How They Live. Viking Press, New York, NY). Yesterday morning Lula (our dog) and I headed back from tracking our rattlesnakes on a trail through the mesquite forest. Lula was only a step or two ahead, so I
- [Drinking buddies](https://www.snakes.ngo/drinking-buddies/) - We got a chance to visit some old friends recently and made some new ones. Just a gorgeous female Arizona black rattlesnake enjoying a warm spring day. Adult Arizona black rattlesnakes chilling near their den. How many do you see? (find the answer key at the bottom of this page) Whipsnakes may have
- [Countdown to Snake Count: 1…](https://www.snakes.ngo/countdown-to-snake-count-1/) - Snake Count is here! I'll end this week's roundup of snakes with the snake that started my obsession with rattlesnakes, black-tailed rattlesnakes (Crotalus molossus, hereafter blacktails). Many, many years ago, I attended the International Herpetological Symposium just for fun, as the only reptiles I worked with at the time were of the feathered variety. I
- [A very long engagement](https://www.snakes.ngo/a-very-long-engagement/) - There's been so much happening this summer, we haven't had a chance to introduce our new guy, DoubleR. Since we got back Bane's old and newly repaired transmitter (see here and here), we've been on the lookout for an appropriate candidate. Jeff had a few individuals in mind; big black-tailed rattlesnakes that we've seen near
- [They're everywhere!](https://www.snakes.ngo/theyre-everywhere/) - When SocialSnakes started working at the Muleshoe Ranch Preserve in September 2011, we were interested in whether Arizona black rattlesnakes (Crotalus cerberus) den in groups here at the southern and low elevation end of their geographic range. They do! Last year we observed at least one Arizona black rattlesnake sharing a den at Muleshoe with
- [Our friendly neighborhood rattlesnakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/friendly-neighbors/) - Not a day goes by during snake season (~April - October) that we don't run into a western diamond-backed rattlesnake at Muleshoe headquarters. Rattlesnakes are not territorial, so several overlap here, both males and females. Some even overwinter beneath one of our buildings... The star of this group is Henry, the very first snake in
- [Bane the lucky and resilient](https://www.snakes.ngo/bane-lucky-resilient/) - Read part 1, when good transmitters go bad, here. Jeff returned shortly with Bane! He had moved, but luckily not far. We contacted the transmitter manufacturer, who graciously offered to repair the faulty transmitter and have it back to us in a week. While that is very fast turnaround, we didn't want to keep Bane
- [What a cluster!](https://www.snakes.ngo/what-a-cluster/) - This time of year at Muleshoe, it's not hard to see snakes every day if you mean to. Even though it's hot and dry and they aren't moving much, we have a couple of "regulars" that hang around headquarters as well as four snakes that we radio-track. And even though the monsoon has not yet
- [New Year, New Home](https://www.snakes.ngo/new-year-new-home/) - Back when Advocates for Snake Preservation was going by the name Social Snakes, we (Jeff and Melissa) were lucky enough to live on a nature preserve, surrounded by snakes. Circumstances changed, we moved back to the city (Tucson, Arizona), but never forgot how amazing it was to live with snakes. Well it took us a
- [Wins for Snakes 2017](https://www.snakes.ngo/wins-for-snakes-2017/) - The year in pictures. Together we achieved significant victories for snakes this year. [row] [column md="6"] We killed HB2022, the Arizona snake-shooting bill! [/column] [column md="6"] ASP co-founders Melissa and Jeff received the 2017 Jarchow Conservation Award. [/column][/row] [row] [column md="6"] Many people found out about rattlesnake roundups through Elizabeth Alberts' well-researched piece
- [Countdown to Snake Count: 5...](https://www.snakes.ngo/countdown-to-snake-count-5/) - Snake Count is almost here! This week we countdown to Snake Count with a post each day featuring a snake we found during last spring's Snake Count. We hope you'll join us at Muleshoe for Snake Count, but if you can't, find a way to participate in your area by clicking on the graphic below.
- [Arizona black rattlesnake aggregations exhibit hallmarks of sociality](https://www.snakes.ngo/arizona-black-rattlesnake-aggregations-exhibit-hallmarks-of-sociality/) - This summer we presented our preliminary findings on social snake behavior at the World Congress of Herpetology in Vancouver, British Columbia. Because our presentation was so well received (we won the Herpetologists' League Graduate Research Award!), we decided to adapt it for the blog. Enjoy! And we'd love to hear your feedback below, by email,
- [Don't Let Fear Drive Wildlife Management in Massachusetts](https://www.snakes.ngo/quabbin/) - Don't Let Fear Drive Wildlife Management in Massachusetts Thanks to everyone who took action on this issue, we'll provide updates as they become available. We have a sad, embarrassing history of persecuting animals we fear, often driving them to the brink of extinction. Timber rattlesnakes are one of many victims; they have been nearly extirpated
- [Social reptile bloggers](https://www.snakes.ngo/social-reptile-bloggers/) - In one week (9 December 2013) Social Snakes will join a group of bloggers to draw attention to ecosystem services provided by snakes. Social media has become an important tool in conducting effective science education and outreach and snakes have much to gain from this. Many reptiles and amphibians occur in large numbers in the
- [Interspecies interactions aplenty!](https://www.snakes.ngo/interspecies-interactions-aplenty/) - Friday evening while tracking Jaydin, we came across an Arizona black rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus) hunting along an old corral fence. BeeGee was still there the following morning, so we decided to put a camera on him. While we have captured interactions between rattlesnake species and with squirrels before, it was pretty exciting to see both
- [Arizonans call your representative -- STOP HB2022!](https://www.snakes.ngo/arizonans-call-hb2022/)
- [Save the Frogs Day 2013!](https://www.snakes.ngo/save-the-frogs-day-2013/) - Muleshoe's first Save the Frogs Day was a success! Thirty people (14 adults and 16 kids) participated in this year's event, including a science class from a local middle school. We learned about our local frog (Lowland leopard frog, Lithobates yavapaiensis), built them a new pond, and of course ran into a snake or two.
- [Gassing rattlesnakes in Texas](https://www.snakes.ngo/gassing-rattlesnakes-texas/) - Gassing rattlesnakes in Texas A proposal to ban gassing in Texas (one of the few states where it is still legal) was introduced in late 2014 and has been debated ever since. Pouring gas into the ground to collect wildlife probably seems a little crazy and hardly controversial, but rattlesnake roundups depend on this method
- [An Arizona snake in trouble](https://www.snakes.ngo/snake-in-trouble/) - Today we present a guest post from friend and #SnakeHero, Jeff Servoss: I share a rather depressing story about one of the most ecologically unique snake species in North America, the narrow-headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus). I’ve spent the last three years of my career conducting secondary research on the status of this species, culminating with
- [Rattlesnake sociality exists, it's complex, and likely occurs in multiple species](https://www.snakes.ngo/rattlesnake-sociality-exists-its-complex-and-likely-occurs-in-multiple-species/) - Rattlesnake sociality exists, it's complex, and likely occurs in multiple species Drs. Rulon W. Clark, William S. Brown, Randy Stechert, and Harry W. Greene [1] found cryptic sociality in timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus). Timber rattlesnakes use communal winter dens and pregnant females aggregate together at rookeries to gestate their young. Clark and colleagues collected DNA samples from rattlesnakes to examine relatedness within these aggregations. While all individuals from the same den were not related, (...read more)
- [Rattlesnake sociality exists, it's complex, and likely occurs in multiple species](https://www.snakes.ngo/rattlesnake-sociality-exists-its-complex-and-likely-occurs-in-multiple-species-2/) - Drs. Rulon W. Clark, William S. Brown, Randy Stechert, and Harry W. Greene [1] found cryptic sociality in timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus). Timber rattlesnakes use communal winter dens and pregnant females aggregate together at rookeries to gestate their young. Clark and colleagues collected DNA samples from rattlesnakes to examine relatedness within these aggregations. While all
- [Snake Peeks 4: Jaydin the Hound Dog](https://www.snakes.ngo/snake-peeks-4/) - It's Wednesday, which means we have a new #SnakePeeks video for you! Today's episode stars Jaydin, one of my favorite snakes of all time. Unfortunately he is no longer with us, but he left us with many fond memories, videos, and photos to remember him - he was always up to something cool. If you'd
- [2014: A look back](https://www.snakes.ngo/2014-a-look-back/) - Thank you, Snake Heroes, for making 2014 a great year for snakes! Together we can do even more in 2015. Music: The Perfect Life (with Wayne Coyne) by Moby courtesy of mobygratis. Moby is kind enough to make much of his music available free to students and nonprofits for non-commercial use. And he is a
- [Snake Peeks: Spring Fling and Babies](https://www.snakes.ngo/snake-peeks-4-8/) - New videos in our YouTube series Snake Peeks Even where snakes are common, they can be difficult to observe because they are shy and easily disturbed. Through good fortune and patience we've been able to record brief moments in the lives of wild snakes. These portraits of behavior may oppose what many (most?) people
- [Snake Peeks: Lovers, Fighters, Drinking, Hunting](https://www.snakes.ngo/snake-peeks-9-12/) - New videos in our YouTube series Snake Peeks Even where snakes are common, they can be difficult to observe because they are shy and easily disturbed. Through good fortune and patience we've been able to record brief moments in the lives of wild snakes. These portraits of behavior may oppose what many (most?) people
- [The tricky business of relocating rattlesnakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/the-tricky-business-of-relocating-rattlesnakes/) - Listen to our friend Erika Nowak discuss the problems with rattlesnake translocation, commonly viewed as the humane solution to snakes showing up places where they are not wanted. http://cpa.ds.npr.org/knau/audio/2015/03/bf031915.mp3 You can read the transcript here.
- [How many snakes have you walked under?](https://www.snakes.ngo/how-many-snakes-have-you-walked-under/) - Tracking can be made more difficult by assuming you know where the animal is going to be. This morning when we tracked Jaydin (male black-tailed rattlesnake), his signal seemed to be coming from all around. We were drawn to a large pack rat house, but only when we added a third dimension to our search,
- [Pretty little faces](https://www.snakes.ngo/599-2/) - I have talked about western patch-nosed snakes (Salvadora hexalepis) several times recently (here and here) because it seems like we've seen one or more everyday. Unfortunately, they're usually gone before I can get a decent photo. But yesterday one stuck around long enough for this slow photographer to snap a couple shots. The short walk
- [Countdown to Snake Count: 2…](https://www.snakes.ngo/countdown-to-snake-count-2/) - I've already dedicated a post to gophersnakes and how I adore them, but since we're almost certain to see one this weekend, they deserve another mention. Gophersnakes (Pituophis catenifer), or a close relative (bullsnakes, pine snakes), are found nearly throughout the United States. They can be very large (up to 6 feet in length!), but
- [Birthday!](https://www.snakes.ngo/birthday/) - Some people have wild parties for their birthday or go out for dinner, movie, and maybe see some music. Not my Jeff; it was a quiet night with the snakes for him. We set out after work to check on our friend Bane (adult male Arizona black rattlesnake), who was last seen headed toward Secret
- [Which is which?](https://www.snakes.ngo/which-is-which/) - Today we feature a guest post from our dear friend, Roger Repp, originally posted on our Facebook page. Hopefully the first of many - enjoy! Greetings honored visitors from other places, This is to be my first official posting to the ASP Facebook page. (Or any other Facebook page, for that matter). I would like
- [Which is which, answered](https://www.snakes.ngo/which-is-which-answered/) - Here lie the answers to our quiz. If you landed here without taking the quiz first, STOP, and go back and check it out before reading below. Now the answers from our dear friend, Roger Repp: Well, I hear that my very first posting has brought about an avalanche of interest and comments. Thank you
- [Taken](https://www.snakes.ngo/taken/) - Like most visitors to Arizona, I had never heard of a rock rattlesnake when I first visited the Chiricahua Mountains in 1999. But there he was, a rattlesnake in miniature with gorgeous markings and a big personality. I was completely taken by this little snake, and he changed the course of my life; I gave
- [Teardrop & TIE Fighter](https://www.snakes.ngo/teardrop-tie-fighter/) - Awhile back we dedicated an entire post to the lucky or skillful young rattlesnakes that survived their first winter. In this population neonate (newborn) rattlesnakes have less than a month to find their first meal and locate a safe place to spend the winter. Of course it helps when your mom gives birth a couple
- [Bane](https://www.snakes.ngo/bane/) - First, it rained last night! Not much (0.02 in), but since ANY rain in May is rare, even a tiny bit is exciting. There are many reasons to love Bane (male Arizona black rattlesnake). When he was first sighted during last year's Snake Count as he was drinking from Secret Springs, a behavior rarely seen
- [Spring is here!](https://www.snakes.ngo/spring-is-here/) - Or rather, has been here (I'm a little behind in posting :-)). After many boring weeks of tracking our rattlesnakes and seeing almost nothing (we were sometimes able to glimpse a few inches of two of the Arizona black rattlesnakes), nearly all of them have now emerged from their dens. The first signs of spring
- [Announcing ASP](https://www.snakes.ngo/pr20140516/) - For Release May 16, 2014 Contact: Melissa Amarello, (520) 333-6957, mel[at]snakepreservation.org Advocates for Snake Preservation A new nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the way people view and treat snakes TUCSON, Ariz.— Long portrayed in myth and media as villains, snakes have a largely undeserved reputation as malevolent creatures. Snakes are threatened by many of the
- [Have we changed the way you view snakes? Let us know!](https://www.snakes.ngo/changed-your-views/) - At Social Snakes, our mission is to unravel the mystery of snakes to foster compassion and promote snake conservation. We tell stories and share videos of snakes' true behavior in the wild, with a focus on surprising behavior that is relatively unknown and apealling (sociality, parental care). So, is it working? Maybe you loved snakes
- [Just for kicks?](https://www.snakes.ngo/just-for-kicks/) - Ecologists study how interactions between species affect populations. Trophic (feeding) interactions are the most obvious (e.g., lions eat zebras), but competition and mutualism are also important in structuring populations residing together. Food webs consider how seemingly non-interacting populations of species may influence each other indirectly, often through the actions of other species. How individuals interact
- [Zona returns](https://www.snakes.ngo/zona-returns/) - We were only able to pay a quick visit to our favorite rattlesnake nest sites in 2013, but it was a very productive trip. As always, we were greeted by familiar faces, one in particular a delightful surprise. In most snakes, we're missing some basic information: How long do they live? How old are they
- [Life becomes death](https://www.snakes.ngo/life-becomes-death/) - Over the summer of 2013, SocialSnakes was blessed to be visited by many great people, including the author of this post, Jennifer Fill. We were honored to host Jennifer for part of her first annual trip to Arizona and introduce her to our neighbors which she had never seen before (western diamond-backed rattlesnakes, patch-nosed snakes,
- [Muleshoe to the rescue](https://www.snakes.ngo/muleshoe-to-the-rescue/) - A tiny, magical thing happened the other day. We saved a life. And by we, I mean all of us - the extended Muleshoe family. Back in May, we held our second annual Snake Count at Muleshoe. One of the great things about Muleshoe is its small, intimate space. Guests who weren't here specifically for
- [When good transmitters go bad](https://www.snakes.ngo/good-transmitters-go-bad/) - Jeff and I set out early 4 July to track Bane and Luna (male and female Arizona black rattlesnakes), who had both been sticking fairly close to the Nature Trail. Bane shed a few days before, and the rains had started, so we expected him to start mate-searching behavior soon. We tuned in Bane's frequency
- [Fair weather friend](https://www.snakes.ngo/fair-weather-friend/) - We got a beautiful thunderstorm yesterday afternoon. It rolled in at the perfect time: late enough to cool things off, but early enough that it was still a little light after. It was time to take an after-dinner stroll around headquarters to look for old friends. Removing transmitters from snakes is bittersweet. No doubt the
- [Snake tracking update](https://www.snakes.ngo/snake-tracking-update/) - Although we've briefly mentioned some of the rattlesnakes we're tracking at Muleshoe this spring, we haven't done a full update in a while. So here ya go. Bane left his den in a hurry back in March. Although we suspect he shared his overwintering spot with several other snakes, we didn't observe any of the
- [Monsoon season is officially here!](https://www.snakes.ngo/monsoon2013/) - Traditionally, the start of the monsoon season in the southwest US was determined by "three consecutive days when the average dew point temperature was greater than 54 degrees Fahrenheit in Tucson" (Guido 2010). A few years ago they changed to a date: 15 June. Why? I guess the dew point determination was too scientific or
- [Nature's trash collectors](https://www.snakes.ngo/natures-trash-collectors/) - Guess I'm just a sucker for unlikeables :-) Back in high school and the early part of my college career, I volunteered at Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky and fell in love with vultures. We called them nature’s garbage men (and women) because they have the important, but very un-glamourous job, of cleaning up after everyone
- [Bane, a creature of habit](https://www.snakes.ngo/bane-a-creature-of-habit/) - Although Bane (adult male Arizona black rattlesnake) didn't enter our radio-telemetry study until 5 August 2012, we first met him during last year’s Spring Snake Count. I had led a group of Snake Counters to Secret Springs, a warm-spring-fed pond that was formerly a cattle tank. One of the Snake Counters encountered Bane on the
- [Countdown to Snake Count: 4...](https://www.snakes.ngo/countdown-to-snake-count-4/) - The is the snake that kicked off Snake Count for us last year. Jeff and I were driving through the the uplands on Muleshoe Ranch road when we saw a bright pink 'thing' on the road. We were both thinking it couldn't be a snake (snakes aren't pink?). Thankfully we realized how wrong we were
- [The return of FiveLong](https://www.snakes.ngo/the-return-of-fivelong/) - I ran into an old friend yesterday on my way to close the gate :-) There's a large, warm water puddle on the driveway just in front of the visitor center where lowland leopard frogs and Gila topminnow breed. Birds catch insects over the water and prints indicate that coati and raccoon forage there at
- [A bold lizard](https://www.snakes.ngo/a-bold-lizard/) - This is an ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus). They are small and usually common, so often overlooked by lizard enthusiasts. However, they are beautiful, curious, and quite entertaining to watch. And like Bane, they are bold. Neither Lula (our beloved female pit bull mix) nor the lizard would have allowed me to stage this photo
- [A very happy un-rattlesnake Friday](https://www.snakes.ngo/a-very-happy-un-rattlesnake-friday/) - The Center for Snake Conservation has designated Fridays as Rattlesnake Friday, a day to promote the welfare of rattlesnakes by dispelling a common snake myth, and talking to others about the amazing ecology and natural history of rattlesnakes (for example). It's part of their overall mission to promote snake conservation through education, which is very
- [Gophie!](https://www.snakes.ngo/558-2/) - Everyone thinks of me as a rattlesnake girl and I totally am. But nothing makes me happier than seeing a gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer). As I followed Jeff down the hill where Luna was hanging out last week, he suddenly appeared to be falling: running/sliding while occasionally putting his hand down as if to steady himself.
- [First of the year!](https://www.snakes.ngo/first-of-the-year/) - Yesterday morning Jeff and I had a prolific little stroll to the old horse barns. First, we spotted a western patch-nosed snake (Salvadora hexalepis) stretched across the road. A few steps later, Jeff saw the first Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) of the year at the preserve! Gila monsters spend most of their life underground, so
- [Welcome to May!](https://www.snakes.ngo/may-2013/) - For the month of May I intend to do a short blog post every day, focused on a recent experience at the Muleshoe Preserve. I'll start with this lovely Sonoran whipsnake (Coluber bilineatus): While hanging out on the couch yesterday afternoon, I spotted a shiny, slender figure moving along a mesquite branch, 4-5 feet off
- [January rattlesnakes?](https://www.snakes.ngo/january-rattlesnakes/) - We'll take a short break from tales of Jaydin to share a somewhat unusual snake sighting at the preserve. Last winter we had timelapse cameras on three snake dens, but never saw anyone until March. Well this year, on 20 January, we were pleasantly surprised to see not one, but two female western diamond-backed rattlesnakes
- [Women and Snakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/women-and-snakes/) - February is “Women and Snakes” Month! While herpetology (the study of reptiles and amphibians, including snakes) is still largely a man's world, there are more women in the field each year. Each day this month the Center for Snake Conservation (CSC) is highlighting a different woman working to promote snake conservation. Today they're highlighting us
- [How can you cuddle without arms?](https://www.snakes.ngo/how-can-you-cuddle-without-arms/) - From the website "How can you cuddle without arms?"I was contacted a while ago by a student in the Animal Behavior class at Reed College. For this class, pairs of students design a website on an animal behavior of their choice and this student was working on social snake behavior. Check out their excellent website,
- [A tribute to Jaydin](https://www.snakes.ngo/a-tribute-to-jaydin/) - In August of 2011 we visited the Muleshoe preserve for the very first time. As we drove through the entry gate, we heard the telltale buzz of a rattlesnake moving in the underbrush beside the driveway. While this would normally be regarded as a warning alarm, we interpreted it as an auspicious sign. This hefty
- [Changing of the guard](https://www.snakes.ngo/changing-of-the-guard/) - Wow, it has been awhile, but I won't bore you with the details of why we've been absent. What's important is that WE'RE BACK! We (and the snakes) had a busy summer and even though the snakes will be headed to their dens soon, we'll have plenty of stories to share all winter long while
- [And so it begins...](https://www.snakes.ngo/and-so-it-begins/) - About 6:30pm, 3 July 2012. Though we had a few tantalizing sprinkles in June, the monsoon officially arrived last night. We got about a half inch of rain at headquarters and the 4th of July has started out cloudy and cool. For the first time in weeks, every snake we checked on this morning was
- [Red](https://www.snakes.ngo/red/) - Each summer, a friend of ours is visited by a male Arizona black rattlesnake whom she calls Red. Red spends much of the active season hunting near bird baths and feeders (or, in Arizona, 'snake feeders'), patiently coiled and awaiting an inattentive or distracted bird.Usually Red turns up in late May, but with summer coming
- [A tussle at the den?](https://www.snakes.ngo/a-tussle-at-the-den/) - I am currently reviewing all the footage from the dens this past spring and will have many things to share very soon (until then, you can see a new timelapse photo almost daily on our facebook page). Recently, I came across some rather unusual behavior: What's unusual about this? Well, interactions among snakes at our
- [Snake Count Spring 2012](https://www.snakes.ngo/snake-count-spring-2012/) - In 2011, the Center for Snake Conservation started a twice yearly Snake Count "to map and track snake distributions across North America." Additionally, the goal of Snake Count is to get everyone (not just scientists) to take an interest in the snakes they see and get involved in conservation. In Arizona, May is typically hot
- [Goodbye to a friend](https://www.snakes.ngo/goodbye-to-a-friend/) - It is with a heavy heart that I report the death of one of our snakes, Chris (male Arizona black rattlesnake). While I love all of the rattlesnakes at Muleshoe, Chris has a special place in my heart because he was the first Arizona black rattlesnake I found here (from The Arizona black rattlesnakes trickle
- [Allison](https://www.snakes.ngo/allison/) - Because of our remote location, there is no trash pickup at Muleshoe Ranch. We have a couple trash bins where we accumulate bags of trash from residents and guests until we get a chance to take it to the local dump (~one hour away). Over the winter, rodents moved into our trash bins and created
- [Special, unofficial, guest blogger](https://www.snakes.ngo/special-unofficial-guest-blogger/) - Roger, adult male Arizona black rattlesnake named for Roger Repp (photo by Roger Repp). We've been really lucky to have some fantastic volunteers at the site this spring (and also why I haven't had time to update the blog :-)). One volunteer did his own write up of our adventures last weekend, which I highly
- [Spring storm](https://www.snakes.ngo/spring-storm/) - This has been a strange spring here at the rattlesnake dens. It has either been unusually hot or like this: 14 April 2012 Last year, we saw a gradual increase in social basking behavior, followed by snakes dispersing for their summer hunting grounds. That process has been halted and restarted twice this year already! But,
- [Just for fun!](https://www.snakes.ngo/just-for-fun/) - I'm hoping to have some current stuff to post soon, as the snake activity is really picking up right now, but I haven't had a chance to go through our photos and videos yet. So, here's a little something from last year, just for fun! A cold storm brought some much needed precipitation (a mix
- [And the last snake has risen](https://www.snakes.ngo/and-the-last-snake-has-risen/) - So in our last post there was one rattlesnake left that was still in his den as of 30 March. I checked on that snake this morning and am happy to report that Chris (male Arizona black rattlesnake) has emerged! He has not yet moved away from his den site, but was getting some sun
- [Surprise neighbor](https://www.snakes.ngo/surprise-neighbor/) - Back in November, we told you about a new snake den in the Galiuro Mountains (Scenes from a new den). We have been monitoring that den with our timelapse cameras ever since. After a relatively quiet winter, activity is really picking up around here. Based on our fall observations, we knew that western diamond-backed rattlesnakes
- [Winter](https://www.snakes.ngo/winter/) - December and January were pretty quiet here at the ranch; as you can see from the above photo, the weather has not exactly been snakey. OK, it only snowed a couple times and melted pretty quickly, but it has still been too cold for snake activity. Even Jaydin (adult male black-tailed rattlesnake) finally settled into
- [November](https://www.snakes.ngo/november/) - November was a month of lost snakes, found snakes, and Jaydin’s (our male black-tailed rattlesnake) wild ride. View from Boyett's den Henry (male western diamond-backed rattlesnake) disappeared for the first couple weeks of November. How do you lose a giant rattlesnake? Easy: when you first have trouble locating him, climb the steepest hills nearby assuming
- [October draws to a close](https://www.snakes.ngo/october-draws-to-a-close/) - I've always thought of October as the end of the snake season. Snakes settle into their dens and we check on them less frequently because they are no longer making long movements. But, if you ignore snakes over the winter, you'll miss out on some really cool behavior, like this: A poor quality video of
- [Podcast on social rattlesnake behavior](https://www.snakes.ngo/podcast-on-social-rattlesnake-behavior/) - If you'd like to take a break from reading, but not rattlesnake behavior, check this out:The Reptile Living Room: Rattlesnake Behavior with Dr. Rulon ClarkThis is a great interview with my friend Rulon Clark about his research, including social behavior of timber rattlesnakes. Dr. Clark is now a professor at San Diego State University, where
- [Scenes from a new den](https://www.snakes.ngo/scenes-from-a-new-den/) - We were recently told about a new social rattlesnake den in the Galiuro Mountains. We hiked in to check it out, saw one western diamond-backed rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), and decided to set up one of our timelapse cameras. The video below is from the first two days of our monitoring, and we were a little
- [16 October 2011](https://www.snakes.ngo/16-october-2011/) - The week began with a visit from our dear friend Roger Repp, who wanted to check out our new study site and track some of the snakes. We had barely started our hike down Hot Springs Wash when we came across a very healthy looking Sonoran whipsnake (Coluber bilineatus). As is typical with this species,
- [First week](https://www.snakes.ngo/first-week/) - A Sonoran whipsnake (Coluber bilineatus) at Muleshoe Ranch. Our first week of tracking was pretty uneventful. We release snakes as soon as possible after their transmitter implantation surgery so that they can recover in their habitat. So typically the first week or so is pretty slow; the snakes lay low while recovering and don't make
- [The Arizona black rattlesnakes trickle in...](https://www.snakes.ngo/the-arizona-black-rattlesnakes-trickle-in/) - One week to go and we haven't found any Arizona black rattlesnakes yet (remember, we wanted six). The clock is ticking. On the afternoon of 26 September, I started my snake search by checking on the bird-eater. He was in his usual spot, waiting for a thirsty bird. I then hiked downstream in hot springs
- [Pretty in Pink](https://www.snakes.ngo/pretty-in-pink/) - 28 April: Molly basks briefly before leaving the security of the den to fulfill what is on every rattlesnake’s mind: the first meal of the year. It’s been over seven months since they’ve last had a chance to eat, so they’re probably quite hungry.Molly comes out first and coils on the left. The snake on
- [She's back: Alice!](https://www.snakes.ngo/shes-back-alice/) - One of our favorite snakes of 2010 has been spotted at the den! Alice was coiled next to a log a short distance away from the den the afternoon of 25 April:Alice. 25 April 2011 13:40And later heading away to her hunting grounds for this year:Alice. 25 April 2011 16:13Because she gave birth last year, it
- [Zona](https://www.snakes.ngo/zona/) - *This story illustrates how we identify individual snakes and how important these aggregation sites are to the rattlesnakes. 29 May 2010. One of the first snakes marked at this site was Zona, a female less than a year old when we first encountered her. Zona was sitting on a downed log a few meters from
- [SuizoReport: Black Velvet](https://www.snakes.ngo/suizoreport-black-velvet/) - SuizoReport: Black Velvet: "A new religion that will bring you to your knees Black Velvet if you please........... Howdy Herpers, On 16 April, John Slone escorted ..."
- [Bandshell](https://www.snakes.ngo/bandshell/) - Halfway between Tucson and Phoenix, a crumbling granite hillside gives way to a cactus-studded alluvial plain. Small, sandy washes break up this landscape and facilitate the growth of desert trees. Here, the western diamondbacked rattlesnake flourishes during times of plenty and, in leaner times, retreats to refuges to idle until conditions improve.In February of 2010
- [SuizoReport: Stuck Up atrox Part 2 +](https://www.snakes.ngo/suizoreport-stuck-up-atrox-part-2/) - SuizoReport: Stuck Up atrox Part 2 +: "Howdy Herpers, My good friend Melissa Amarello, AKA 'Cerbermiss,' has a most excellent website constructed around her work with Ariz..."
- [Serpent Research: More on Ending Rattlesnake Roundups](https://www.snakes.ngo/serpent-research-more-on-ending-rattlesnake-roundups/) - Serpent Research: More on Ending Rattlesnake Roundups: "The following commentary was on the Andalusian Star News January 29, 2011 The City of Opp’s Rattlesnake Rodeo Web site cauti..."
- [Alice](https://www.snakes.ngo/alice/) - Memorial Day Weekend 2010. Alice is a big, beautiful, dark female Arizona black rattlesnake with mustard yellow scales outlining each dorsal blotch. We first encountered her ~20 meters from a known rattlesnake den. Several of our party walked right by before we discovered her, coiled at an opening beneath a boulder, without her rattling or
- [Are aggregations of Arizona black rattlesnakes stable and complex social groups?](https://www.snakes.ngo/aggregations-complex/) - In 2010, we initiated a study of social behavior in Arizona black rattlesnakes (Crotalus cerberus) at sites where they aggregate. Here is a preview of our videos. Surveillance and timelapse videos taken at Arizona black rattlesnake hibernacula. Timelapse videos created with the PlantCam by Wingscapes and Adobe® After Effects® CS4 software. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TcPBWnLrZD0 This first short

## Pages

- [Advocates for Snake Preservation](https://www.snakes.ngo/) - We make snakes more familiar, less scary, and coexistence with venomous snakes safer. Together, we can turn ‘EEK!’ into ‘AWW!’ for snakes 🧡🐍
- [Hi! Nice to Meet You!](https://www.snakes.ngo/hello/) - Learn More About Rattlesnake Family Life Read More About Rattlesnake Family Life Rattlesnakes are Awesome Moms! The Nurturing Nature of Rattlesnakes Rattlesnake Babysitting Learn More About Coexisting With Snakes
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- [Who Are the Advocates for Snake Preservation?](https://www.snakes.ngo/advocates/) - Melissa Amarello, Co-founder, Executive Director Melissa’s lifelong fascination with snakes led her to work on a variety of projects on natural history and conservation of reptiles in Arizona, California, and Mexico. After witnessing how negative attitudes can stifle conservation efforts, she incorporated education and outreach into her research to foster appreciation for snakes by sharing
- [Shop for Snakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/shop/) - Show your love for snakes, spread the word, and support snake conservation with snake stuff. Sustainable Snake Shirts & Hoodies We now have a shop on Bonfire where you can find all our organic cotton shirts. Snake Stuff on Redbubble We now have a shop on Redbubble where you can find our logo stickers and
- [World Snake Day](https://www.snakes.ngo/wsd/) - July 16 is World Snake Day: an opportunity to celebrate snakes and raise awareness about their preservation. While snakes are threatened by many of the same issues that affect all wildlife (habitat loss, climate change, and disease), negative attitudes toward snakes may be the biggest barrier to their preservation because it often impedes efforts to
- [Join The Den](https://www.snakes.ngo/join/) - & Power the Shift from “EEK!” to “AWW!” Help rewrite the story of snakes — from feared villains to valued neighbors — by powering empathy-first, science-based education that saves lives on both sides of the encounter. When you join The Den, you: Fuel science-based storytelling that shows snakes as devoted moms, helpful neighbors, and essential
- [Snake Stories](https://www.snakes.ngo/stories/) - Want to learn more about snakes? You're in the right place! Here you can read about social behavior, watch videos of rattlesnakes defending their babies, or learn about other interesting snake behaviors. Stories by Topic Latest Snake Stories Search for Stories
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- [Want to Help Snakes?](https://www.snakes.ngo/get-the-guide/) - Discover 11 simple tips to create a wildlife-friendly yard and help snakes and your other wild neighbors thrive. You’ll also be the first to hear new snake stories and opportunities to take action in ASP's fortnightly newsletter.
- [Introducing The Snake Advocate Toolkit!](https://www.snakes.ngo/toolkit/) - Most folks learn about snakes from naturalists, teachers, interpreters, or even their neighbors – not "snake experts." We want to equip these frontline educators with science-based interpretive materials and training to improve public attitudes and reduce human-snake conflict. Education enhances attitudes about snakes. The Snake Advocate Toolkit empowers educators to successfully change negative attitudes about
- [The Buzz](https://www.snakes.ngo/buzz/) - The Buzz is ASP's print newsletter, published for our supporters. Here you can read the latest Buzz online or view and download the pdf version. Want to receive The Buzz in print? For a donation or monthly pledge of just $25 a year or more, you will not only make a difference for snakes, but
- [Donate](https://www.snakes.ngo/donate/) - "YOU can save a snake like me!" (Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus)) Give to Snakes Have questions or need help? Contact Melissa by email, text, or phone (575-956-5231) and she'll be in touch as soon as possible. ASP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 46-5587063). Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Learn more about where your
- [Thanks!](https://www.snakes.ngo/thanks/) - On behalf of snakes everywhere, Melissa, Jeff, and ASP's Board of Directors, You can find out more about how ASP spends money (and where our money comes from) here.Please let us know immediately if you have any questions about your donation. Contact Us
- [Give a Gift to Turn "EEK!" into "AWW!" for Snakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/give/) - "YOU can help me find a safe place to nest!" (Madam X, pregnant Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake) Give to Snakes Have questions or need help? Contact Melissa by email, text, or phone (575-956-5231) and she'll be in touch as soon as possible. ASP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Learn
- [Contact Us](https://www.snakes.ngo/contact/) - If you have comments, suggestions, or questions about ASP, please let us know. You can also find resources here to help with the most common issues and questions we receive. Write: PO Box 2752, Silver City, New Mexico 88062 Text or Call: 575-956-5231
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- [Media Coverage](https://www.snakes.ngo/press/) - Snakes don't get covered often, but when they do, it's usually negative. The more familiar people are with snakes, the less likely they are to fear and hate them, and the easier it will be to conserve them. So why not be part of the solution? Write an article, dedicate a podcast episode or video
- [Local Services](https://www.snakes.ngo/local/) - Services we offer in our neighborhood on Chiricahua Apache land in what is now known as southwest New Mexico and southeast Arizona, USA. Free Snake Identification Share a photo and location* and we'll identify the snake. Email or text will get the quickest response. *We are much more familiar with snakes native to North America,
- [Publications](https://www.snakes.ngo/pubs/) - Presentations Publications *If you'd like a copy of something not available here for download, let us know; we may have a pdf to share. EB Allison, EN Taylor, ZA Graham, M Amarello, JJ Smith, and ZJ Loughman. 2024. Effects of relational and instrumental messaging on human perception of rattlesnakes. PLOS ONE 19(4): e0298737. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0298737 Also see
- [Thank You!](https://www.snakes.ngo/supporters/) - Thanks to the 53 members of The Den — the community that’s making coexisting with snakes possible every month — and 1,534 other snake heroes that provide most of our support. We’d also like to shout-out: Grant funders The French Foundation New Mexico Department of Wildlife Share with Wildlife Program The William & Charlotte Parks
- [Financial Information](https://www.snakes.ngo/finances/) - Advocates for Snake Preservation is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Arizona in 2014. We moved and incorporated under the laws of the State of New Mexico in 2017. November 2024 – October 2025 Our IRS Form 990ez for this year is available here. Total Expenses: $47,600 Direct Program Expenses:
- [Other Ways to Save a Snake Today](https://www.snakes.ngo/other-gifts/) - A gorgeous, harmless Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus). Other Ways to Save a Snake Today Together, we can give everyone the opportunity to learn to love snakes! Habitat loss. Climate change. Roads. Disease. Life is hard for most wild animals, but especially so when you're feared and misunderstood. Advocates for Snake Preservation makes snakes more familiar
- [Presentations](https://www.snakes.ngo/presentations/) - In order to change how people view and treat snakes, we give in-person presentations on snake behavior and conservation in southwest New Mexico and southeast Arizona. For adults, we give a multimedia presentation that runs 30-45 minutes with a question and answer session following the presentation (approximately one hour total). Our presentations for children are
- [FAQ](https://www.snakes.ngo/faq/) - Resources to help with the most common issues and questions we receive. Found an injured snake? Locate a wildlife rehabilitator: Animal Help Now lists assistance for wildlife emergencies or conflict situations. Wildlife rescue and rehabilitators by state Your state wildlife agency should also have a list of licensed rehabilitators, but they don’t always list them
- [About ASP](https://www.snakes.ngo/about/) - Advocates for Snake Preservation, ASP, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the way people view and treat snakes. We officially launched on Endangered Species Day (May 16) in 2014. Why Snakes? Snakes are threatened by many of the same issues that affect all wildlife, including habitat loss, climate change, and disease. But negative
- [Events](https://www.snakes.ngo/events/)
- [Snakes Are Everything](https://www.snakes.ngo/everything/) - Snakes are big. Snakes are tiny. Snakes are fierce. Snakes are cute. There are so many reasons to love snakes and in each episode of Snakes Are Everything we'll meet a new Snake Star and learn why snakes inspire their biggest fans.
- [Resources](https://www.snakes.ngo/resources/) - Download, print, and share our factsheets to promote coexistence with snakes. Need a bunch of factsheets to hand out at an event? Please fill out this form and we'll be in touch soon! Resource Request Form
- [Why Snakes?](https://www.snakes.ngo/why-snakes/) - There are already so many conservation groups, why do snakes need their own? Like me, you probably grew up hearing stories about snakes, stories that rarely had nice things to say about them. From the biblical tale of the Garden of Eden to the modern story of Harry Potter, snakes are usually portrayed as deceitful
- [Join the ASP Board of Directors](https://www.snakes.ngo/volunteer/) - Why Snakes? Snakes have a largely undeserved reputation in folklore and modern media as evil, heartless creatures. Fear and misunderstanding result in merciless persecution and impede snake conservation. During more than a decade working on a variety of reptile conservation projects, Melissa Amarello and Jeff Smith often encountered negative attitudes about snakes and their work.
- [Partners](https://www.snakes.ngo/partners/) - Organizations we work (or have worked) with to promote compassionate conservation and coexistence with snakes. Click on their logos to visit their websites and learn about the other awesome work they're doing!
- [6 Ways to Support Snakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/help/) - A gorgeous, harmless Ring-necked Snake. Your contribution to Advocates for Snake Preservation empowers us to be a voice for snakes that everyone can hear. We provide solutions to human-snake conflicts that sometimes end badly for people and often prove fatal for snakes by making snakes more familiar, less scary, and recommending yard and human behavior
- [Create a Facebook Fundraiser to Support Snakes!](https://www.snakes.ngo/facebook-fundraisers/) - Want to help us change how people view and treat snakes? Facebook fundraisers are a great way to leverage the power of your social network to raise money for ASP and support our work to promote compassionate conservation and coexistence with snakes. Facebook Fundraisers are FREE for you to set up (but note that Facebook
- [How Do You Read The Buzz?](https://www.snakes.ngo/survey/) - Loading…
- [Education](https://www.snakes.ngo/education/) - In an effort to raise awareness of the plight of snakes, we present a different (and more accurate) side of snakes than usually seen in the media. Find out more about our presentations and contact us to inquire about in-person or online programs. Not in our area? Learn about and watch videos of snake behavior on
- [Book Recommendations](https://www.snakes.ngo/books/) - For Kids A Rattlesnake’s Story: The Story of a Young Snake Who Discovers the Sad Truth About Rattlesnake Roundups by Grace Taracka. This book covers some aspects of rattlesnake ecology and rattlesnake roundups. Don't Make Me Rattle! by Elaine A. Powers. Rattlesnakes are much less scary once you get to know them. A Water Snake's
- [Your Snake Stories](https://www.snakes.ngo/your-stories/) - Does changing how people view and treat snakes seem impossible? Read these Tales of Transformation and become a believer! Submit your Snake Story
- [Coexisting with Pitvipers Symposium](https://www.snakes.ngo/cps/) - at Biology of Pitvipers 4Rodeo, New Mexico, USA 6:00 - 8:30 pmFriday 15 July 2022 Join the Snake Coexistence Working Group Education and outreach are essential components of any conservation program, especially for those working with maligned, misunderstood animals that pose a potential threat to the public. As lifelong pitviper enthusiasts, it may be difficult
- [Thanks for Registering!](https://www.snakes.ngo/sae-register/) - Thanks for registering for Snakes Are Everything! Join us live for the presentation and Q&A on Zoom*-- you will receive an email with the Zoom details for the presentation. Feel free to submit your questions ahead of time on the discussion board or if you'd rather ask privately, email Melissa. See you soon! *Can't make
- [Thanks for Signing Up!](https://www.snakes.ngo/thanks-for-signing-up/) - You are awesome! Thank you for signing up for snake stories and updates from Advocates for Snake Preservation! Without you, we could not be a voice for snakes that everyone can hear. After a few introductory emails, you'll typically hear from us once a month, a bit more often a couple times a year for fundraising
- [Financial History](https://www.snakes.ngo/financial-history/) - Advocates for Snake Preservation is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Arizona in 2014. We moved and incorporated under the laws of the State of New Mexico in 2017. November 2017 – October 2018 Our IRS Form 990ez for this year is available here. Total Expenses: $3,955.00 Direct Program Expenses
- [Snakes of Grant County, New Mexico](https://www.snakes.ngo/local/snakes/) - Snake species observed in Grant County, verified on iNaturalist or by museum records, plus one species that is likely to occur here, but hasn't been documented yet (Western Massasauga (Sistrurus tergeminus)). Harmless Snakes Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans)Sonoran Whipsnake (Coluber bilineatus) 3Coachwhip (Coluber flagellum)Striped Whipsnake (Coluber taeniatus)Ring-Necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus) 1Chihuahuan Hook-Nosed Snake (Gyalopion canum) 3Mexican
- [Research](https://www.snakes.ngo/research/) - We are interested in what wild snakes do. They are notoriously difficult to observe without disturbing them, which, in part is why they are so woefully misunderstood. We try to spend a lot of time in the field when snakes are active to carefully and quietly observe what they do. This observational approach is as
- [Instagram](https://www.snakes.ngo/instagram/) - You can find us on Instagram @SnakeAdvocate or preview our most recent posts here. https://www.instagram.com/snakeadvocate/
- [My Account](https://www.snakes.ngo/my-account/) - [woocommerce_my_account]
- [Gift Acceptance Policy](https://www.snakes.ngo/gift-policy/) - Acceptance of any contribution, gift or grant is at the discretion of Advocates for Snake Preservation (ASP). Advocates for Snake Preservation will not accept any gift unless it can be used or expended consistently with the purpose and mission of ASP. No irrevocable gift, whether outright or life-income in character, will be accepted if under

## Categories

- [Press Releases](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/news/press-releases/)
- [Muleshoe](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/muleshoe/)
- [Behavior](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/behavior/)
- [Social behavior](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/social-behavior/)
- [SocialSnakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/socialsnakes/)
- [Parental care](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/parental_care/)
- [Feeding](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/foraging/)
- [Misinformation](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/misinformation/)
- [Threats](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/threats/)
- [Persecution](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/persecution/)
- [Roads](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/roads/)
- [Netting](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/threats/netting/)
- [Grazing](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/threats/grazing/)
- [Invasive Species](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/threats/invasive-species/)
- [Action](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/action/)
- [Art](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/art/)
- [News & Announcements](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/news/)
- [#SnakesAreEverything](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/snakesareeverything/)
- [Snake Heroes](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/snake-heroes/)
- [Tales of Transformation](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/tales-of-transformation/)
- [Presentations](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/presentations/)
- [Events](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/news/events/)
- [Coexistence](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/coexistence/)
- [Buzz](https://www.snakes.ngo/category/buzz/)

## Tags

- [black-tailed rattlesnake](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/black-tailed-rattlesnake/)
- [gila monster](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/gila-monster/)
- [henry](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/henry/)
- [jaydin](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/jaydin/)
- [stuart](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/stuart/)
- [western diamond-backed rattlesnake](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/western-diamond-backed-rattlesnake/)
- [Arizona black rattlesnake](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/arizona-black-rattlesnake/)
- [barney](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/barney/)
- [bird-eater](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/bird-eater/)
- [boyett](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/boyett/)
- [chris](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/chris/)
- [glendy](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/glendy/)
- [sociality](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/sociality/)
- [alice](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/alice/)
- [maternal care](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/maternal-care/)
- [roundups](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/roundups/)
- [zona](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/zona/)
- [freckle](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/freckle/)
- [molly](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/molly/)
- [combat](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/combat/)
- [condors](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/condors/)
- [courtship](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/courtship/)
- [gophersnake](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/gophersnake/)
- [Pituophis](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/pituophis/)
- [hunting](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/hunting/)
- [house](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/house/)
- [priscilla](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/priscilla/)
- [Cap Mama](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/cap-mama/)
- [allison](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/allison/)
- [feeding](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/feeding/)
- [barb](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/barb/)
- [sigma](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/sigma/)
- [squirrel](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/squirrel/)
- [520](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/520/)
- [adam](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/adam/)
- [bozo](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/bozo/)
- [dagger](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/dagger/)
- [devil tail](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/devil-tail/)
- [eve](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/eve/)
- [unibrau](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/unibrau/)
- [woody](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/woody/)
- [drinking](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/drinking/)
- [stache](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/stache/)
- [teardrop](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/teardrop/)
- [TIE fighter](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/tie-fighter/)
- [coachwhip](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/coachwhip/)
- [snake count](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/snake-count/)
- [Sonoran whipsnake](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/sonoran-whipsnake/)
- [porter](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/porter/)
- [Mohave rattlesnake](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/mohave-rattlesnake/)
- [bane](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/bane/)
- [cathy](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/cathy/)
- [luna](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/luna/)
- [persephone](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/persephone/)
- [ridge-nosed rattlesnake](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/ridge-nosed-rattlesnake/)
- [rock rattlesnake](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/rock-rattlesnake/)
- [BeeGee](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/beegee/)
- [headquarters den](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/headquarters-den/)
- [western patch-nosed snake](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/western-patch-nosed-snake/)
- [ring-necked snake](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/ring-necked-snake/)
- [ornate tree lizard](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/ornate-tree-lizard/)
- [FiveLong](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/fivelong/)
- [color change](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/color-change/)
- [parental care](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/parental-care/)
- [DoubleR](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/doubler/)
- [whiptail lizard](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/whiptail-lizard/)
- [#SnakesatyourService](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/snakesatyourservice/)
- [snakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/snakes/)
- [vipers](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/vipers/)
- [#HerpsAdapt](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/herpsadapt/)
- [lizard](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/lizard/)
- [#SnakeHero](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/snakehero/)
- [collecting](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/collecting/)
- [poaching](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/poaching/)
- [action](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/action/)
- [persecution](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/persecution-2/)
- [#SnakePeeks](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/snakepeeks/)
- [bird](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/bird/)
- [roads](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/roads-2/)
- [gartersnake](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/gartersnake/)
- [whipsnake](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/whipsnake/)
- [#CrawliesConverge](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/crawliesconverge/)
- [netting](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/netting/)
- [compassion](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/compassion/)
- [rattlesnake](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/rattlesnake/)
- [glue trap](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/glue-trap/)
- [mojave](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/mojave/)
- [Thamnophis rufipunctatus](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/thamnophis-rufipunctatus/)
- [art](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/art/)
- [#BattleOfRattles](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/battleofrattles/)
- [Tale of Two Trash Snakes](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/tale-of-two-trash-snakes/)
- [5Years5SnakeStories](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/5years5snakestories/)
- [TWA](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/twa/)
- [babysitting](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/babysitting/)
- [mating](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/mating/)
- [eastern patch-nosed snake](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/eastern-patch-nosed-snake/)
- [color](https://www.snakes.ngo/tag/color/)