Snakes are not high on the list of people's favorite reptiles, leading most to have a cautious relationship with the slithery creatures. The biggest concern is that you never know when you are going to run into a snake that is venomous. Some, like rattlesnakes, blend into their surroundings perfectly, making them invisible until it's too late. Rattlesnakes also get confused for their doppelgängers, the gopher snake, which is a mistake that can be deadly.
As dangerous as snakes can be, it's hard to deny them the respect they deserve. It's pretty easy too, at least, from a safe distance where no one can get hurt. However, suffice it to say none of us want to run into one of them during one of our outdoor adventures here in North America. In many of the rattlesnake-ridden states like Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, though, it can be downright hard to never tangle up with a venomous snake, and even harder to never kill one. Much like Katniss, the odds are simply not in your favor. Despite all this, one brave soul decided to stick his GoPro into a massive snake den, filled to the brim with these scaly rattlers.
The den, located in Montana, was home to dozens of rattlesnakes all crammed into a small area, hiding out in crevices and a large hole in the ground. As dozens of rattlesnakes rattle away in the hole, the brave cameraman sticks a GoPro on a stick deep into the den to get way closer and personal with the snakes than most would like. At least using this method, you do not need to fear snakebites.
The interesting thing with this video is that even though there were dozens of snakes in this hole, we did not see even one rattlesnake bite the camera. It all goes back to the fact that most species of rattlesnakes are probably more fearful of humans than we are of them. Most snakes simply want to be left alone so they can spend time basking in the sun or hunting down their favorite meals in amphibians, and small mammals. Den sites this large are usually uncommon in most ecosystems. Although it is common for the pit vipers to gather in places like this when they go into hibernation during colder times of year.
Whether you love or hate snakes, it is important for rattlesnake populations to be maintained carefully because of the work they do keeping many rodent populations in check. With a little common sense in snake country, you can avoid dens like this entirely. One must be careful when crossing rock piles and outcrops in snake country because denning sites like this are not a place you want to stumble into by accident. The best thing to do if you come across a den like this, whether the species is prairie rattlesnakes, timber rattlesnakes, western diamondback rattlesnakes, etc, is to leave them alone. Most snakebites happen when someone tries to capture or harm the serpents.
