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WC 548 Rattlesnake Dance

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted August 21, 20122,124 views12 comments

I was mountain biking in the hills near our house last week when I came upon these two rattlesnakes in the middle of the road. From what I can find, I believe these are two males fighting for a female. They would wind themselves together and try to push the opponents head to the ground (see second photo). They had no interest in me and I watched until they took their battle off the road and into the brush. My daughter runs in these hills with our dog and has also seen a lot of rattlers this year. The dog doesn't get off the leash anymore. I was surprised how well this little phone handled the harsh light. Other then down sizing and a slight crop, no other processing was performed.
Thanks,
Rudy
LG-VN251, Hand held just outside striking distance

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on August 21, 2012 at 10:23 PM

Rattlesnake Dance #2

Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments

Comment posted by Verdon on August 21, 2012 at 11:05 PM

We had tones of snakes this year too here in CO, awesome moment, and even quality is decent

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Peter May on August 22, 2012 at 10:09 AM

Wow. Great capture of this infrequently seen ritual combat behavior between male rattlesnakes. They aren't really "fighting" in the sense of trying to do harm - rather, each is trying to establish dominance. Once the loser is pinned and subdued, he crawls away and leaves the victor to his spoils. Kudos, Rudy.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 7 Posts, 239 Comments

Comment posted by Paul DeCesare on August 22, 2012 at 1:39 PM

Yikes!! Effective picture, because you got close enough to make my hands sweat...

Registered on August 31, 2007, 29 Posts, 202 Comments

Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on August 22, 2012 at 2:37 PM

Ok. . .this is a great shot but too close for comfort!

Great behavior you have captured and the quality looks quite good for a phone photo. I like the neutral coloring of the snakes and background. Even though I would find it quite scary and run the other direction

, it looks like a real special nature scene to come upon.

Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on August 23, 2012 at 1:34 PM

Wonderful behavior captures, Rudy. Great work.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Kane on August 25, 2012 at 12:05 PM

Incredible!!!! What a moment to experience

Registered on August 4, 2012, 66 Posts, 726 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on August 26, 2012 at 6:54 PM

What a neat find. Your phone (and it's operator

) did an excellent job.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Myers on August 27, 2012 at 12:19 PM

Wonderful captures of a really interesting behavior, Rudy. And the advantage of using a phone camera, is that it was at the ready to call for assistance in the event they decided to include you in their ritual.

Registered on September 1, 2008, 85 Posts, 757 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 29, 2012 at 4:05 PM

Nice catch!
Congrats on the WP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on August 30, 2012 at 5:32 AM

Just out of striking range? From the perspective here, I think I'd recalculate! Anyway, this is fascinating, something I've never seen and wouldn't go looking for. Nice work for phone and photographer. Good brakes on the bike, too, huh! Congrats on the Pick!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on September 3, 2012 at 8:21 PM

Rudy, what an event to see and capture. I first became aware of this ritual years ago when watching Wild America with wildlife film-photographer Marty Stouffer. He was in a cave in the Badlands of South Dakota filming this type of scene. And yes, these are two males fighting over a female who must be close in the area no doubt. According to everything I've seen and read they will not bite each other, only wrestle as you've captured here.
By the way Rudy, the Riverside County newspaper the Press Enterprise had a big article showing this exact trait with two Pacific Rattlers they got photos of up in the Idyllwild area. According to the article the Pacific Rattlesnake have been found to have a very potent venom along the lines of the Mojave Green. Which they think there is interbreeding between the the two species. .....

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments