- Chuck Smith
- Mar 22
- 2 min read
Timber Rattlesnake rookeries as centers of social activity: documentation using photography and videography
Cancalosi, John
John Cancalosi Photography
Germantown, Maryland, USA
For over 20 years, I have been using photography to document the social behavior of Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) and other snake species (e.g., Copperhead, Garter Snakes) at birthing rookeries. To do this I have mimicked the behavior of my quarry: sitting-and-waiting. This unobtrusive and non-invasive practice has been essential to my success in documenting social behavior of wild snakes. Recently, with the addition of videography to my repertoire, I was able to observe and document a new subtle behavior, termed head muscle quivering (see Cancalosi, Davis and Schuett, in press). After more than two decades of observation at a Timber Rattlesnake rookery in Pennsylvania, the only behaviors that I observed were pregnant snakes basking and parental care of neonates. Occasionally, garter snakes were present. At a new Timber Rattlesnake location in Maryland, the first year of observation was similar to that in Pennsylvania, with pregnant snakes basking and close associations with copperheads, which do not occur at the rookery in Pennsylvania. However, during my second year at the new site, in the course of only two weeks I observed and documented basking, courtship, male combat, drinking, close associations with copperheads, and head muscle quivering behavior. Later, I recorded neonates with their presumed mother. I will discuss my approaches and techniques used to document social behavior of snakes. My current view is that birthing rookeries of rattlesnakes are centers of social behavior. The ability to observe these behaviors depends on location, timing, conditions, chance and technique. Patience and persistence are essential in observing and documenting natural behaviors of rattlesnakes in the wild.