A Colorado “mega den” of rattlesnakes is becoming active after winter, and a livestream offers scientists and the public a unique glimpse into their behaviors.
COLORADO, USA — A “mega den” of rattlesnakes in Colorado is becoming active after the winter.
Thanks to a livestream that launched Monday, scientists studying the den on a craggy hillside in Colorado are learning more about these enigmatic — and often misunderstood — reptiles.
The public can watch too on the Project RattleCam website. The project is a collaboration between California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, snake removal company Central Coast Snake Services and Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
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As the camera launched Monday, snake researchers said it is still a bit cold at the den, so you can expect to see a few rattlesnakes active in midday and the afternoon.
“As the days heat up, the number of snakes out will increase, and we have a long and busy May to look forward to before the non-pregnant snakes depart for their feeding grounds,” researchers said.
This is the second spring when the public and scientists can watch the snakes become active for the spring. The livestream was first launched in 2024.
> Watch the rattlesnake livestream below:
As many as 2,000 snakes spend the winter at the rookery on private land at an undisclosed location in Colorado. Dozens of pregnant snakes spend the summer there as they prepare to give birth and care for the babies.
There are 36 species of rattlesnakes, most of which inhabit the U.S. They range across nearly all states and are especially common in the Southwest. These being studied are prairie rattlesnakes, which can be found in much of the central and western U.S. and into Canada and Mexico.
Prairie rattlesnakes are most active between April and September. In the springtime and fall, they’re active during the day, while they become more nocturnal during hot summer months.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.