Colorado's rattlesnake "mega den" is back on livestream
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How many prairie rattlesnake faces can you spot in this den? (Hint: There are three!) Screenshot via Project RattleCam
Project RattleCam is back, meaning you can now take a ssssneak peek inside Colorado's "mega den," where hundreds (and possibly thousands) of prairie rattlesnakes are emerging from their winter slumber.
Why it matters: The livestream, in its second year, offers a rare, up-close look at the lives of one of nature's most misunderstood creatures — showing them sunbathing, snuggling and even giving birth.
- (And yes, rattlesnakes do like to cuddle.)
How it works: Researchers from California Polytechnic State University and Dickinson College in Pennsylvania are behind the effort to study these snakes and "show them off to everyone around the world," Owen Bachhuber, a Cal Poly graduate student involved with the project, tells Axios Denver.
- The livestream is captured through one stationary tripod camera that's manually operated by researchers throughout the day.
- The den's location is a tightly held secret (somewhere near Fort Collins, per KUNC) to protect the snakes.
- The project is made possible through donations, which are "so important right now when the federal government is cutting science [funding] in every place it can," Bachhuber says.
Zoom in: Two dozen slithering serpents are named and tracked, each with a distinct personality and appearance.
- Lasagna, for example, is known for folding her body "like a big pan of lasagna" alongside her pal Ramen. "Noodles hang with noodles!" her bio reads.
- Stubby is missing a tail but remains "brave and resilient."
- Twitchy is "a ladies man" who "love[s] to put on a show" and, true to his name, gets fidgety when females are around.
Fun fact: A live chat lets you talk with fellow viewers about snake behavior and soap opera-level drama in real time.
The intrigue: In the spring and summer, the den acts as a "rookery" or nursery — meaning most snakes you see on the livestream are pregnant females, Bachhuber says.
The big picture: Western films and viral videos have painted rattlesnakes as aggressive, mindless loners — but Bachhuber say that's misleading. Most of the time, snakes are calm, social and surprisingly complex.
- RattleCam aims to rewrite that narrative — not just for science, but to help people and snakes safely coexist.
What's next: Dozens of pregnant snakes are expected to give birth later this summer. Females carry for three to four months and typically deliver eight to 17 live babies.
- All the action will be captured on camera.