I live close to a small liberal arts college that has an excellent biology department, one that is creative and always exploring new ways in which to study our environment.
This college is located in a rural area with an expanse of heavy timber and cliffs, conditions that are ideal for timber rattlesnakes.
And yes, I have encountered a few “rattlers” near the college over the years while hunting and yes, I have from time to time wished I knew where the closest rattlesnake was to me, especially if it was still dark in the woods.
Truth is, they don’t always rattle when they should.
The biology department at this college must have read my mind because they now have a program in which rattlesnakes on this campus are briefly caught and with the assistance of a veterinarian, are outfitted with battery-operated VHF implants and microchip identification tags.
