Endless Ocean

Rattlesnakes P9

Rattlesnakes have very long fangs. A few kinds of rattlers have fangs that are more than an inch long which is equivalent to 2.5 cms. This is why rattlers fold their fangs. When a snake closes its mouth, the fangs would never fit inside if they could not be folded.

When a rattlesnake hunts, it takes its time. It doesn't rush around chasing prey. Instead it moves slowly and carefully--------or it may simply wait in one spot for prey to come along.

Rattlesnakes often hunt ar night, when their ability to "see" in the dark with their heat sensing pits gives them a special advantage. But they may hunt at any time of the day or night. Their favorite prey are rodents like mice, rats, and gophers. But they also feed on birds, lizards, frogs, and toads.

In search of food, rattlers poke their heads into holes. They flick their tongues to see if they can smell their prey. And they use their pits to see if warm animals are inside.

Often a rattler coils itself up at the side of trail and waits. It may wait quietly for hours before prey comes along.

Most people don't know it, but rattlesnakes are often doing good for people when they hunt rodents, they play a very important part in keeping rodents under control. If there were no rattlesnakes, there would be a lot more rodents to eat our food and causes us trouble.