Snake season is here!

Muleshoe / By

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:

An adult male briefly chin-rubs female #22 as he emerges from the den.
An adult male briefly chin-rubs female #22 as he emerges from the den.
Female #22 dispersing from the den.
Female #22 didn't go too far - she's seen here a couple days later under a rock in our yard :-)
A couple days later female #22 is under a rock in our yard 🙂

In the following video another female emerges from the den and shortly thereafter disperses.

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It almost seemed like this guy was showing off for our guests! While he rested here, everyone got a great view of him from above and below at the visitor center.
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A closer view of the above rattlesnake resting outside the visitor center.

Our first snake sighting of 2012, was nature’s rodent control, Allison. Because she showed up at headquarters so early in the year, we thought she probably denned nearby. Turns out her den is very close indeed!



At a nearby den we wrote about last year, the snakes are starting to emerge as well. We didn’t set up cameras there this year, but we hiked over there yesterday and found this friendly face peeking out from the outcrop:
LDatrox

In other news, Persephone (female black-tailed rattlesnake) was seen basking near her den, so she may be on the move soon too. Stay tuned for more!

melissa