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Discussion thread: RATTLESNAKES episode is published! (Patreon)

Published:
2025-06-25 18:50:46
Imported:
2026-06

Content

This episode is published and ready to hear! This thread is to discuss amongst ourselves, whether you've listened or want to share snake stories, advice, etc.

Crotalology is up and it's all about rattlesnakes. It's been on my list forever and Dr. Emily Taylor of Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo more than delivered. We chat about how misunderstood rattlers are, the boggling stats about rattler deaths, hiking advice, dog training, antivenom development, first-aid flim-flam, how to live in peace with rattlesnakes by relocating them for free, and the thankfully changing sentiments toward rattlesnake roundups. Also: who gets bitten the most? Might surprise you.

Did you listen yet? What do you all think? Anyone a little more fascinated by these critters? Also Australia: wow. So many snakes but no rattlers.

Chime in,

Alie of the Wards

PS: thank you SO much for the kids' advice in the last post for Smologies listeners! Truly so wonderfully helpful and if you don't mind I'm going to take all of your advice. Thankyouverymuch.

Files

Crotalology (RATTLESNAKES) with Dr. Emily Taylor - alie ward

Fangs. Rattles. Misconceptions. Crawl out from under your rock for the angelic rattle of one of the world's most maligned, misunderstood, gorgeous, mysterious, efficient creatures. Herpetology professor, rattlesnake scientist and thus, Crotalologist Dr. Emily Taylor discusses why rattlesnakes deserv

Comments

Pavka34

When I was a kid someone left a book out called “Animals Nobody Loves” and I read it. It featured coyotes, rats, wolves, vultures and rattlesnakes. I can’t find it now and there are multiple books with this title but it made a positive impact on how I understood these animals.

Lizzy Martinez

Today I cried after hearing about the horrible treatment to rattlesnakes just minding their own business which is all of them. I personally aim to respect their homes and space living in CA where walkways where they live are aplenty. I hope more people will let them live their beautiful, wonderful mom and dad lives undisturbed.

Pavka34

Also, when I was a kid, the Boy Scout manual still read that you should suck out the poison if bitten by a rattlesnake. This was a recent change as they’d dropped the cutting bit.

Rebecca Bayuk

This episode moved me to tears when I heard about the cruelty inflicted on rattlesnakes. I didn’t know much about them before, but having learned more about these little guys in today’s episode I am now a card-carrying rattler enthusiast. Snake aunts?! 🥹 I mean. Just wonderful. This episode for me just summarizes so perfectly the absolute joy of Ologies- I learned cool stuff, I was moved, I felt inspired by the evident passion from the visiting Ologist - all-round balm for the soul in these frankly terrifying times. Thanks SO much Alie and Dr. Emily! 🐍🐍🐍

Ara Victor

Will be thinking about snake aunties (snaunties) all day after this 😍. Also, sucking out the venom might not be medically beneficial but it sure would impress your crush at the right moment

Andy Pepper

YAY! This was SO great and I loved it!! Sent to any and all snakeophile friends!

Jennifer Langford

Cant wait to listen! Love Dr. Taylor’s outreach to the public. I believe she really is changing peoples perspective of snakes in the Central Coast and now hopefully elsewhere with this episode!

Darren Bush

When I was younger (80s) I worked construction in California, we found a half dozen rattlesnakes every day under plywood laying on the ground or under pallets. I'm ashamed to admit we often dispatched the big ones to keep the workers safer. On the bright side, I skinned them and tanned their hides, and often ate the big ones. Easy to cook: just bake at 375 for half an hour or so, smothered in barbecue sauce. In does, in fact, taste like chicken. Don't judge me too harshly, I wasn't the foreman.

Liz Smith

Super interesting little buggers! I used to run on the Cherry Creek trail in Denver CO with headphones on until I also stepped straight on a rattler’ all coiled and ready to strike. I think he/she may have been stepped on/bothered earlier while sunbathing on the warm sidewalk since that area of the trail wasn’t really a trail at all. My flight response worked well and I flew away from there vowing to never wear headphones again (circa 1990s). Please mention the Rattle Snake roundup in Waurika OK and ask your guest’s opinion on these events.

Bren Norman

We lived out in the country and definitely had snakes around (SE WA). When my dad found one he'd relocate it, but he always did it by hand. In other words, pinching them right behind the head with his thumb and forefinger. One day he picked up a juvenile. He wanted to switch hands because he didn't have a good grip. In the transition there was just barely enough room for it to twist it's head and get one fang in. The moron thought he'd just ride out the pain. But he decided to go to the hospital after his lips and gums started going numb. The hospital luckily had just enough antivenin to give him a full dose. His whole arm swelled up to his shoulder. His hand was so big it no longer had creases/wrinkles. It didn't change anything though. He's still moving them by hand when he finds them close to the house.

Colby Evans

I'm just amazed you were still working construction into your 80's! jk

El Pete

When I was kid, my dad and I came across two dudes in Death Valley who were having a great time throwing rocks at a baby rattlesnake. My dad chewed them out, and I was so proud of him!

Bren Norman

We ate a couple over the years. One time we found a fatty that was between 3-4ft. We were ready to eat it so we chopped off the head, put it in a grocery bag, and tossed it into the fridge. The next morning the thing was still coiling around itself. Crazy.

Hannah Gorrie

I lost my shit learning about the squirrel tail swishes and temp changes! And the parenting dens, co-parenting fathers, and aunties warmed my heart 😍

Rebecca Shay

I've loved snakes forever, this made me love them even more. Also, Alie, shout out to not great coping mechanisms for shitty grandmothers. My sister and I made everything a drinking game 🙃

Ren

Okay the squirrel thing is so fun because I was visiting Sequoia NP last month and staying in a cabin in the foothills and one afternoon we went outside because a ground squirrel was SCREAMING from the top of a big boulder and when we went out to be like "dude wtf chill" there was a western rattlesnake passing through the yard!!! I would have never gotten to see the snake if the squirrel didn't alert all the neighbors to it's arrival.

Darren Bush

Hah! I would be 125 years old.

Alyssa Berg

I'm only part of the way through but I paused the pod to text my partner a pic of the inside of a rattlesnake tail to be like DID YOU KNOW THIS?!?! and his response was "Okay at first I thought it was a pasta and that would be the best pasta shape of all time, Sporkful Guy could never." And I just had to share that because now ALL I WANT is "rattlensnake shaker tail stuffed shells." Can't wait to listen to the rest of the ep!

Taylor campbell

i just finished telling my gf about snaunties

Susan G

As one of the Australian Ologites, yes, so many snakes! Alas, no rattlers. My knowledge of rattlesnakes before this was entirely through media growing up, which led me to believe a rattlesnake would be lurking around ever corner, ready to bite! I've always been a fan of snakes though. I was so delighted by this episode, I gasped just as many times as Alie, and I love and adore rattlesnakes now!

Matt Ceccato

"Secondly, don't get so close to a snake and make eye contact if you're trying to figure out if it can kill you." I laughed for a solid minute. And I needed a laugh this week. Thanks, Pod Dad!

choirqueer

I love hearing that there are snake rescuers although I hate that there need to be. I wish I could drive, I would sign up immediately!

Marc Rubin

Ologies: the paragon of science podcasts! So down to earth yet full of information that makes you stop and really ponder the beauty and complexity of the natural world!! I am now team rattlesnake! Also, please do an episode on veterinary gerontology with my lovely wife, Dr Ashley Portmann of Home Together Vet! Isn't Gremlin a teenager now? Does she have an outfit picked out for her doggy quinceanera? Ask Dr Ashley about how to make the most of our pets golden years! https://www.instagram.com/p/DLP8fD5xRzS/?igsh=MTg0ejlybXYyNjZtag==

JENN 'Benthopelagic squirrel' ALVAREZ

Loved it! Now I know why my cousin's grandma didn't get bitten when I saw her step over a rattlesnake in Arizona. I've wondered since I was 13. I just figured the snake could tell she was good people. 😂

Fernando López Haro

It was a good thing I was on a hike through the forest while I was listening to this episode because I gasped (and got angry, and cried) as I learned about this fantastic animals. I was already a fan of snakes, but the way this episode flips the paradigm of "snakes = evil" and shows them as the complex and magnificent creatures that they truly are. Absolutely brilliant.

Priyal

Hey, listening to the episode now from Australia and have strong feelings about snake aversion training with shock collars. There are successful training programs that don't involve aversives like shock collars which are illegal in much of the world for good reason. For example this article from the highly reputable Karen Pryor Academy https://clickertraining.com/snake-avoidance-a-positive-reinforcement-approach/

Snarky Mermaid

Well after listening to this, I realize the story of the little baby Mississauga Rattler that left a bite mark on my finger wasn’t near as scary as I made it out to be. Loved this.

Kimberly

Literally just did a hike (before listening to this episode) and almost walked over a rattlesnake. Grateful that it rattled before I actually did. Was super scared but also knew that it was a natural part of the ecosystem and I should’ve paid better attention

ScienceInTheArt

I distinctly recall the guidance from my 70's era Boy Scout Handbook was to make a shallow incision between the two puncture points and suction out the venom using either a suction device or one's mouth if nothing else available.

Devon Whittaker

These are the Ologies episodes I love the most. Fascinating, relatable info about a topic that I didn't think I would get into but become enraptured by. Live Births - Good! Rattler Rodeos - repugnant. I also will share that I use your tag line "Ask Smart People Stupid Questions at work on a weekly basis. Delights me!!! So thankful for YOUR work, PodDad

Sunflower star

I enjoyed all the snake facts and I just looked up the snake cam and watched a snake shedding and letting out a great big yawn! around 9:30 on 6/30. I had no idea snake bites were so rare, that they lived so long or had complex social lives. The bit about how they use infrared /heat sensor along with vision to make a blended map is so interesting.

Between Dumplings

Terrific episode. Horrified at the slaughter events! Where dafuq is PETA? Anyway, loved all this wonderful snake 🐍 knowledge. What a great year to make this happen. 🧧 heard the shout out. ♥️

Savannah Johnson

One of my favorite episodes!! I learned so much and have tons of fun facts to share with others now. The ologist was clearly so passionate and lovely to hear from. Also wtf squirrels how do you know how to do that to scare away snakes? Simply too cool

Sooz

Alie, I love Ologies and I love you but this episode was my all time favorite! I have always loved snakes but I learned so many new things. My new zen at work is keeping the rattlecam up so when I get a stressful email or project I'm like but wait what are the rattlesnakes doing? Love it and love you. Thank you!!! 🐍

Obilot

Speaking of evil evil grandmas. Sweary History author James Fell’s mother-in-law(?) was an absolute monster, long-deceased. At a family gathering, when someone was wondering out loud who had inherited her engagement ring, one of the kids piped up with, “Isn’t that one of her horcruxes?!” I’m all about noping JK Rowling, who probably has horcruxes of her own, but I laughed until the tears ran. I had a great-aunt like that.

Danielle Nance

Loved the episode! We have rattlers regularly near our home in Scottsdale AZ. Earlier this week, we cleaned up a pile of dead bushes and a big ole 5 footer was lazily moving on its way. It seemed rather put out! Grateful for the intel! Thanks, Alié!

Ranger France

I now have the rattlesnake cam playing on my third monitor at work instead of some generic lofi screensaver (still jam to it though). Also, my lovely lonely farming grandmother called me the day after the release of this episode to tell me that she got her hoe sharpened, and that she got her 4th rattlesnake of the summer. After telling her for 5 years that if you leave them alone they'll be fine, she finally believed me when I sent her the transcript of this interview!

smellmyhead

Heads up, the Colorado Rattlecam is ALIVE this morning! Soooooo much activity, so much beautiful slithers! I’ve been a herp fan and a snake lover as long as I can remember, and I know none of those buddies have eyelids. But I have never gotten to observe rattlers so much before, and I hadn’t realized they have little individual visors over each eye, but it makes so much sense?! They’re hanging out in the gravel and on the rocks, soaking up rays, but they gotta keep the glare off! Also one snake in particular keeps yawning and we get to see those fangs when they strrrretch out their mouth! I love it, thanks

Jubata

I LOVED this episode. It made my wildlife biologist heart sing with joy, and was the episode that motivated me to join as a member ❤️

Erin White

Just a small thing - My family pronounces this word 'rootlesnook' and I just want everyone else yo get to enjoy that as much as I do.

Chelcy

I recently moved back to Texas after many years in New York City. My family thought that a warm welcome back would be to invite me to the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup. Ew. No. Read the room, people! Me and my corn snake, Fidget, were equally offended. Can't wait to pull up the rattlesnake cam!