... "Heat Seeker"....
.... was hikin' up to a local climbing 'crag' a few years back and stumbled (literally) upon this sight - a yellow-phase 'Timber Rattlesnake' about to lunch on a freshly killed 'Chipmunk'. Was told by my neighbor (a veteran pro snake "wrangler") that the odds on encountering this sight in the wild are few and far between and near impossible to observe the snake actually consume the "critter" once disturbed - said that he had captured and collected many 'vipers' of various species for many years, and had yet to observe one "dining" on the various rodents that he would feed them. Was also told by a few people that these photos, as well as myself, are "phony" (sort of like a 'Black Panther'). Tim and Laura were there as well so enough with that debate.
Along with sight, touch and smell, some snakes have a special sense that enable them to detect minute changes in temperature in warm-blooded animals. The small "pits" located between their eyes and nostrils can detect a temperature change as small as 0.002 degrees celsius (I've read) - hence the term "pit viper". Sort of like the alien "Predator" in the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie who was able to see infrared thermal radiation - no match for 'Arnold', though (particularly like the end when the "nuclear explosion" only gets Arnold a little dusty). Sure that this is useful for detecting danger to them as well - probably why ya' can never get them to strike at a wooden stick poking at them, but will go for a human hand immediately - cuts down on the cost of 'venom'....
... first sight of the 'rattler and his kill - would have probably stepped right on "him" if he wouldn't have "buzzed" us when we got too close - didn't see him at all...
... was a little hesitant to proceed considering our presence...
... but I guess they gotta "get it while it's still warm"...
... here's a good close-up...
... "down the hatch"...
... you can see the "fang-marks" in the Chipmunk's back in this photo - just below the snake's nose - look's like some seeping venom as well...
... figure that one method that the vipers use on the rodents is to sit patiently near the entrance to their 'den' and strike quickly as they emerge - probably why many times the Chipmunk's have an "emergency exit" as well (I've noticed) - see that a lot in 'Fox' dens I've encountered as well...
... took him maybe five minutes to devour his "meal"...
... "ditto"...
... gone!!...
... you can clearly see the "infrared pit sensor" in this photo..
... "Hey - one of you guys got a smoke?"...
Definitely a memorable day critter watching! Very cool to witness.
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