Rattled

[mhaithaca]

It's funny that Michelle mentioned last night that king snakes can occasionally vibrate their tails, in what I guess is a vestigial remnant of the same talent that rattlesnakes still use to such great effect -- because Charlie did it this morning!

Having gleaned last night that Charlie might need to eat twice a week during the summer, I took out

Comments

[seity1]

Told ya she 'rattled' at me when I was feeding her.

[keeyoo]

Yeah, first time she did it to me, I was feeding her, she got the mouse sideways, and I attempted to help straighten it out. It's kinda creepy because she's not a freakin' rattlesnake!

[adelais]

My cornsnake used to do that when she was scared or pissed. I never saw it associated with feeding.

[keeyoo]

It's definitely a defense mechanism and, since a snake is particularly vulnerable when her mouth, and therefore her main line of defense, is full of food, it follows that she would employ it if she felt she or her food were being threatened. I think it's kind of cool that non-rattlesnakes seem to have adopted this warning method.