One more about snakes (and strange evolution)
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
Eugene, Oregon
August 31, 2016 11:31am CST
Someone from Arizona was in the store where I work recently and happened to mention that rattlesnakes there are evolving to lose their rattles. That would mean that the warning they give before they strike will be gone.
I found this hard to believe and did some research. It is true! And it is happening in other places, such as South Dakota. One theory is that the snakes that rattle get killed, so somehow, they are evolving to stop that noise.
I envision a rattler board meeting somewhere in the desert, where a motion was made, seconded and passed. Now the word has gone out through the rattler telegraph and work has begun.
Link to story:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=216924322
10 people like this
13 responses
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
31 Aug 16
My uncle told me back in the 1980s that rattlesnakes and bull snakes were crossbreeding. A bull snake's skin is supposed to be too tough for a rattlesnake to be able to bite through therefore a rattlesnake can't kill a bull snake but a bull snake can wrap itself around a rattlesnake and kill it. The crossbreeding of the two snakes is supposed to be creating a wicked snake because it's bite is the same as a rattlesnake's bite. Whether these snakes have rattles or not I really don't know.
One thing I do know. You never want to get bit by a baby rattlesnake. When my brother was in Moses Lake he and some friends came across a nest of baby rattlers. One of the guy thought they were cute and reached down to pick one up. My brother told the guy not to but it was too late. The guy picked one up and got bite. The thing is the babies are not strong enough to pull back out so it's pumping poison until someone pulls it out. Luckily they got the guy to the hospital in time.
4 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
31 Aug 16
That was a close call! That crossbreeding thing sounds as if it create a nightmare snake, constrictor and posionous, maybe without rattles.
2 people like this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
31 Aug 16
@JamesHxstatic Kind of scary.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
31 Aug 16
That's the darndest thing. Nature sure does adapt. The snakes will really be dangerous without that warning.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
31 Aug 16
That is for sure. What an odd thing, self-defense I suppose.
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Sep 16
Most of what they eat though are mice and rats that would overrun us if the snakes went away, even just the poisonous ones.
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
31 Aug 16
oh dear, that aint a good thingy! wonder how long such'll take to reach my neck 'f the woods? without their warnin', many'll no doubt be bitten...
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Sep 16
Yes, I wonder how many more bites there will be.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
1 Sep 16
@JamesHxstatic bunches :( which means folks 'll be out huntin' more 'f 'em than they already do.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
31 Aug 16
Yes, I think you are right. I remember the rattlers in New Mexico and Arizona and wondered if they were losing their rattles. That would be an advantage because, like you said, rattles get the snake noticed and killed.
But, I saw a picture of a ring snake and it looks like it was developing rattles. The tail of the snake twists into rings resulting rattles.
Florida Ringneck Snake - Ring Around Neck Black Orange Belly FL
2 people like this
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
1 Sep 16
@JamesHxstatic In the store? Wow. They are only mildly poisonous. 
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
31 Aug 16
That is the same kind I wrote about that we found in the store where I work on Monday.
2 people like this
@louievill (28846)
• Philippines
31 Aug 16
Good thing we do not have rattlers but we do have Philippine cobras, hope they don't evolve to somthing else
2 people like this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
2 Sep 16
E- to the -gad!!! This is scary news. However, I still have the hairs-on-the-back-of-my-neck-raising thing going. I used to live in snake country (Texas) so am thinking the snake alarm is in my DNA.
1 person likes this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
2 Sep 16
@JamesHxstatic Gulf coast for me, born in Galveston, reared in Texas City. Rattlers are everywhere in Texas, I believe.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Sep 16
Wow! That is really scary! I have seen rattlers here in Southern California and nearly always heard them, first. It scares me that they might not rattle first anymore!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43642)
• Denver, Colorado
1 Sep 16
Snakes scare the hell out of me. Since I mountain bike and hike, this just makes it worse.
1 person likes this
