Rattlesnake Love | National Geographic

early spring in Mexico’s Sonoran Desert

early spring in Mexico’s Sonoran Desert when nature gives diamondback

when nature gives diamondback

when nature gives diamondback rattlesnakes their wake-up call

they’ve spent the entire winter

they’ve spent the entire winter underground in a cozy layer away from

underground in a cozy layer away from

underground in a cozy layer away from cold and predators

cold and predators

cold and predators now it’s time to head outdoors and feel

now it’s time to head outdoors and feel

now it’s time to head outdoors and feel the warmth of the Sun

the females are free to bask to their

the females are free to bask to their heart’s content

heart’s content

heart’s content besides warming their bodies the Sun

besides warming their bodies the Sun

besides warming their bodies the Sun helps their eggs develop as they get

helps their eggs develop as they get

helps their eggs develop as they get ready to breed speaking of breeding the

ready to breed speaking of breeding the

ready to breed speaking of breeding the mature males now have to fight it out to

mature males now have to fight it out to

mature males now have to fight it out to see who gets prime access to the females

see who gets prime access to the females

see who gets prime access to the females the male Rattlers perform a weird ritual

the male Rattlers perform a weird ritual

the male Rattlers perform a weird ritual of one-upsmanship they stretch

of one-upsmanship they stretch

of one-upsmanship they stretch themselves to see which one is the

themselves to see which one is the

themselves to see which one is the biggest tallest and strongest this is a

biggest tallest and strongest this is a

biggest tallest and strongest this is a fairly civilized ceremony considering

fairly civilized ceremony considering

fairly civilized ceremony considering time and back venom inflicts everything

time and back venom inflicts everything

time and back venom inflicts everything from extensive tissue damage swelling

from extensive tissue damage swelling

from extensive tissue damage swelling and bleeding to death the rival doesn’t

and bleeding to death the rival doesn’t

and bleeding to death the rival doesn’t measure up so he has to leave the

measure up so he has to leave the

measure up so he has to leave the serpent king to his females the females

serpent king to his females the females

serpent king to his females the females are rested and ready they’re resting

are rested and ready they’re resting

are rested and ready they’re resting together the male checks him out to see

together the male checks him out to see

together the male checks him out to see if they’re ready to breathe

this head rubbing courtship display

this head rubbing courtship display looks like he not only wants to be mr.

looks like he not only wants to be mr.

looks like he not only wants to be mr. right but mr. right now

male and female can stay locked in

male and female can stay locked in Congress for an entire day or more over

Congress for an entire day or more over

Congress for an entire day or more over all that time neither gets rattled and

all that time neither gets rattled and

all that time neither gets rattled and after all this productive pleasuring

after all this productive pleasuring

after all this productive pleasuring it’s time for a meal oh yeah

it’s time for a meal oh yeah

it’s time for a meal oh yeah why they haven’t eaten for five months

why they haven’t eaten for five months

why they haven’t eaten for five months yeah no wonder they’re hungry a squirrel

yeah no wonder they’re hungry a squirrel

yeah no wonder they’re hungry a squirrel is spotted and the snakes hemotoxic

is spotted and the snakes hemotoxic

is spotted and the snakes hemotoxic venom instantly poisons the squirrels

venom instantly poisons the squirrels

venom instantly poisons the squirrels blood the Diamondback is careful to

blood the Diamondback is careful to

blood the Diamondback is careful to align itself so it can swallow the head

align itself so it can swallow the head

align itself so it can swallow the head first bat wait the limbs fold neatly and

first bat wait the limbs fold neatly and

first bat wait the limbs fold neatly and the fur rugs the snake’s innards the

the fur rugs the snake’s innards the

the fur rugs the snake’s innards the right way

the Diamondback unhinges its jaws this

the Diamondback unhinges its jaws this way it can swallow animals that are many

way it can swallow animals that are many

way it can swallow animals that are many times bigger than its own skull

one final yawn and the rattler resets

one final yawn and the rattler resets its jaw