Spring Rattlesnake Processing

Ahhhh Spring! The barn swallows mold their mud nests, the meadowlarks sing a familiar song, the tulips pop from their winter bed, and rattlesnake emerge from their dens and soak in the first hot rays of the season.
Which brings me to this post. This is the busy season where Bryan and his field assistants are busy checking multiple dens on a regular basis (before the rattlesnakes decide to disperse off into the desert). It's the busy season of rattlesnake processing. It's always interesting to see how much the recaptured ones grow after a few years. Of course, there are always new ones too. Bryan has been studying most of these snakes now for over a decade! Only recently, however, have transmitters and an ultrasound machine been introduced into the equation ~ which added more excitement :)

I took these photos last night when our friend Keith was helping Bryan out with processing half a dozen snakes. Lots of data to collect.........

Marking the rattle.........

Rattle width measurement.........

Subcaudal scale count, and sex identification............

Length measurement.........

 Safety first, of course  ;)

It always amazes me how the colors differ from each Great Basin Rattlesnake. Here are two different shades: blonde & brunette I guess...... haha

Ava and Isaac played on the dry erase board........

Ava must have been inspired by the whole process ~ expressing in it in her artwork  :) 

 Have a Sssssssssssssssssssuper sunny day!