Trailing Behavior in Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis)

Abstract

Six rattlesnakes (Crotalus v. viridis) were observed in four experimental conditions designed to assess ability to follow odoriferous mouse trails. If snakes had not struck mice just prior to being exposed to the trails, then no trailing behavior was observed, whereas trails were followed with precision if the snakes struck mice prior to the tests. Striking led to pronounced elevations in rate of tongue flicking, and the magnitude of this effect did not depend upon presence vs absence of mouse trails in the post-strike environment. However, when a trail was present, the high rate of tongue flicking facilitated locating the trail and following it to the mouse carcass positioned at its end. Once a trail was located, the snake confined its head to within 2 cm of the odoriferous cues, and 75% of the tongue flicks were directed to the trail.