Venom extractions from Prairie rattlesnakes ( Crotalus v. viridis) today. | Kentucky Reptile Zoo

Our patternless western diamondback during venom extractions today. Crotalus atrox. #venomous #venomislife #crotalus #atrox #rattlesnake #kyreptilezoo #gopoco #powellcountytourism | Kentucky Reptile Zoo

Feeling rattled? The western diamondback rattlesnake is a staple among our wildlife in the American southwest. It often doesn’t take long in our western deserts to run across a handful of these iconic reptiles. Equipped with heat sensing pits and good eyesight, these snakes spend most of their time in ambush, hunting for prey. They feed on a variety of small animals such as rodents, birds, and other reptiles like lizards. While potently venomous, these snakes have a built in warning system to le

The Western Diamondback demonstrates its defense! On #WorldSnakeDay we celebrate these fascinating reptiles with a PSA. Did you know rattlesnakes don’t know how to be aggressive? What some might interpret as aggressive behaviors are actually high-level defense behaviors, and only occur when lower-level defense behaviors like camouflage, escaping, hissing, or rattling are no longer an option. The best way to respect the snek and avoid a bite? Keep your eyes peeled, watch your step, and give them