Why are snakes on Santa Catalina Island so much more aggressive than elsewhere?

If you’re afraid of snakes, don’t go to Santa Catalina Island, California! According to a new study recently published in the scientific journal Toxins by researchers at Loma Linda University, rattlesnakes are far more aggressive in this beautiful, highly touristic destination than anywhere else in the world. And there would be several explanations for this.

Introduced mammals participated

According to the authors of the study, the environment is partly to blame. Snakes would understand that it is in their interest to shake the cascade located at the end of their tail even louder, bite more and inject more toxins. The reason: they would be more protected from goats, pigs, deer and bison brought to the island, who could trample them to death.

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“The results of this study clearly revealed a much greater defensive ability of Catalina rattlesnakes compared to mainland rattlesnakes.”studies confirm.

The authors also explain this “Humans settled Catalina about 8,000 years ago and brought with them large non-native mammals whose density probably exceeded that of the continent in recent centuries and into the present.”.

Faced with this problem, the island tried to respond, as reported by the LA Times. The reservation, which owns nine-tenths of the territory, has eliminated goats, pigs and bison over the past three decades, which “literally ate the original vegetation”.

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There are still mule deer, whose number is estimated at 2,000 individuals. A new plan was devised to eliminate them using snipers in helicopters. But residents of Santa Catalina fiercely opposed it, even appealing to prosecutors to block the hunt.

In the face of this rejection, the authors of the study counter with the following point: the presence of deer makes snakes more dangerous to humans.

“By introducing predatory and antagonistic mammals to Catalina, humans have made encounters with rattlesnakes more dangerous, which should be appreciated by those who currently oppose the removal of deer from Catalina.”.

“Rattlesnakes see deer as a threat that could crush them, so they have developed a language and social behavior that warns:Hey, I’m here, don’t step on me or you’ll regret it.’“Julie King, co-author of the study and an expert on the ecology of Santa Catalina Island, told the LA Times.

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Small but dangerous

Another reason was mentioned to explain this unusual aggressiveness. Santa Catalina snakes are smaller than those on land. However, they feed on California gophers and native deer mice, rodents with sharp teeth and claws larger than those on land.

“To minimize the risk of retaliation, rattlesnakes and more viper they have developed unique strategies for hunting dangerous prey, including immediately releasing the prey bite annoyingfollowed by a chemosensory search to dislodge the food, which often travels several meters before succumbing to the poison. describes the study in detail.

“These behavioral changes may increase the risks associated with human interaction with snakes in this population, potentially suffering serious or even fatal envenomations.”continues his studies.

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“Our findings and recent discoveries by other researchers have only scratched the surface of the rattlesnake’s personality. There is much more to learn. We are gradually beginning to better understand an important part of our natural world, a part that deserves our respect and protection.” concluded Gerad Fox, co-author of the study.