Rattlesnake populations could thrive in California and across the Southwest. Here’s why

Though most species are at risk when it comes to climate change, rattlesnakes appear to have the upper-hand.

Rattlesnake populations in California and across the Southwest are expected to thrive as a result of the increasingly warmer climate, according to a joint study from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and University of Michigan.

“We are so used to climate change studies that forecast negative impacts on wildlife — it was interesting to see such starkly different findings for these snakes,” project lead Hayley Crowell said in a news release.

Though the warming climate is beneficial to rattlesnakes across the country — including the seven species of such vipers in California — it is particularly beneficial to those in the Southwest, the study says.

Rattlesnakes are experts at thermoregulation, meaning they can change their temperature to fit their surroundings. The average temperature of coastal rattlesnakes is usually 70 degrees, while inland rattlers have an average of 74 degrees, the study says.

However, given the choice, the snakes prefer a body temperature of 86 to 89 degrees, according to the study.

“A warmer climate may help these snakes heat up to temperatures that are more optimal for digestion or reproduction,” Crowell said.

Longer windows of warmer temperatures would result in a longer active season for rattlesnakes, the study says. This means more time for them to hunt and feed, along with additional active hours during the day.

But what about the impact of warming temperatures on their prey? Though climate change may affect the rattlesnakes’ food supply, they may not necessarily be too bothered by this, the study suggests.

“Rattlesnakes require very little energy to exist,” Crowell said.

For instance, an adult male rattlesnake only requires 500-600 calories, about “one ground squirrel, the equivalent of only about half a large burrito,” to survive an entire year, the study says. By comparison, humans require nearly 1,300 times this amount of energy for the same time span.

Though there are thriving rattlesnake populations across the state, the odds of being bitten by a rattlesnake are relatively small, with about 300 cases reported to the California Poison Control System (CPCS) annually.

There is no clear date for rattlesnake season, but most bites occur between April and October.

If you are bitten by a rattlesnake, CPCS advises to seek immediate medical attention.

When and where do rattlesnakes lurk? How to spot the common California reptile

A rattlesnake bites your dog on a California hike. Here’s what to do (and not do) next

Woman bitten by deadly snake as she tried pulling it from dog’s mouth in Australia