Animals around the world have felt the negative effects of climate change, but there is one slithering creature that might benefit from it: rattlesnakes.
Rattlesnakes can be found in every state on the continental U.S., according to the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, but they are usually found in the southwest. One of the most widely recognized snakes in the world, rattlesnakes are relatively quiet reptiles that avoid human confrontation, but when threatened, they will often curl up in an attacking position and begin wagging their distinctive tail before they deliver a venomous bite.
A new study published in the journal Ecology and Evolution earlier this month suggests that rattlesnakes may spend less time hibernating and more time in the wilderness as the planet warms.
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The reason has to do with rattlesnakes being cold-blooded animals. Hayley Crowell, a doctoral student at the University of Michigan and lead author of the study, and her team studied the Pacific rattlesnake because it can be found in desert areas such as Southern California and colder climates such as Washington state.
The researchers observed that snakes prefer a body temperature of around 86-89 degrees Fahrenheit, much warmer than those found in nature. Also, those taken from hotter climates appear much larger than those in colder conditions.
“They’re in colder temperatures than they would in a perfect world,” Crowell told USA TODAY. “If there is an increase of a few degrees in climate, these snakes, from a physiological point of view, may be happier being closer to their preferred body temperature.”
If temperatures continue to warm, Crowell says it could mean hibernation ends earlier in spring for rattlesnakes, and they could still be active in late fall into winter.
“Basically just more time to grow and do rattlesnake stuff,” he said.
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Even if rattlesnakes benefit from warmer temperatures, they still have some negative effects from it; it is expected that there will be less prey such as squirrels and lizards, and snakes may fall victim to increased forest fires and low water availability.
However, rattlesnakes have a way of fighting off eating less, as Crowell’s team also noted they have lower metabolisms than their counterparts, and can settle for eating only a dozen times a year.
“They just don’t need much food at all to survive,” he said. “A rattlesnake can literally survive on just one or two large ground squirrels a year if necessary.”
Even without eating much, humans are still victims of rattlesnakes and other venomous snake bites.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 7,000 to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year, with an average of five deaths over that time span. But being bitten by a rattlesnake can leave a lasting mark, with 10% to 44% of people bitten by a rattlesnake experiencing a final injury, such as losing the ability to use an extremity or having a disability.
Fortunately, Crowell said not to panic; more rattlesnake activity doesn’t mean “giant explosion of millions more rattlesnakes”. On the other hand, they may be noticed more often and will not drastically increase the number of annual bites.
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.
