Скачать или смотреть Crotalus lutosus, Great Basin Rattlesnake, Hiding Behind My Toes

This is the first of two great basin rattlesnakes I saw tonight in Utah County. I hadn't planned on letting it tickle my toes, unlike last week's experiment, but when it changed direction and tried to hide behind my foot, I let it.

I had been walking behind it, encouraging it along in its initial direction to cross the road. Suddenly it decided to hide behind my foot instead. The only real danger was in me accidentally stepping on it, which is the biggest reason I didn't move my foot -- and in that case, I'd feel worse for the little guy than for me.

Notice how calm it was the whole time. My record still holds true -- despite how many rattlers I've caught or interacted with, I've never been struck at.