TIL scientists stepped on 175 rattlesnakes with a fake leg to see how many would bite. The study found that only 6 bit. The rest just froze or tried to wiggle away. Snakes just want to be left alone. - eviltoast
    • PapaStevesy@midwest.social
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      7 months ago

      A threat’s a threat, I doubt snakes are aware of the fact that they even have venom, much less that it only works on certain living biological entities. But I’m no Snake Scientist, so I could obviously be totally wrong.

      • Revonult@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        There is alot of room for bias here. Is the fake foot a realistic proxy of an orgional? Can the snake recognize the difference? You don’t fistfight a book or other object falling onto you. Would a snake bite a rock that shifted onto it when it bumps into it?

        How much pressure is the fake foot applying? A person accidentally stepping on a snake would apply their whole weight because they didn’t know it was there. Likely hurting the snake and warrenting a more significant and immediate response. I doubt the fake foot was applying the same force because of ethical reasons.

        Edit: Phrasing

      • Morgoon@startrek.website
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        7 months ago

        Snakes only produce a small amount of venom and it takes days to replenish reserves. They have fine muscle control over how much venom they release and scientists have measured them releasing amounts of venom relative to the size of their target.

        Not sure how aware they are of doing it but I wouldn’t be surprised with all of a viper’s sensory organs that they knew venom would go to waste on a prosthetic

    • stoly@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      They aren’t worried about what sort of appendage is going towards them. They don’t have that level of cognition. I should think that if you piss off a gorilla with a fake leg, that gorilla would understand that it’s a fake leg and still be mad at you.

      • Revonult@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        I think the biggest factor is pressure. A person would put their full weight down because they don’t know the snake is there. This would probably hurt the snake and warrent a panic/significant response. I doubt the fake foot was applied with the same pressure because ethical reasons.

  • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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    7 months ago

    Kinda of funny considering the whole ‘Don’t Tread On Me’ slogan

    Don’t Tread On Me … or else there is a high likelihood I won’t do anything and a very small chance I might bite you.

  • Blizzard@lemmy.zip
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    7 months ago

    Don’t thread on them with your real or fake legs. They just want to be left alone and chill while listening to snake jazz.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    7 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In a Phoenix-area venomous snake training course, the first thing students learn is that basically everything they thought they knew about rattlesnakes is a myth.

    The sanctuary holds the class for the public and businesses in the spring, as rattlesnakes wake up from their winter-long naps, known in the reptile kingdom as brumation.

    The trainings run through a host of rattlesnake information before teaching people how to safely grab snakes with tongs, plop them in a bucket and remove them from their homes.

    Arizona saw a surge in rattlesnake bites in April, according to data provided to NPR on Wednesday by the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center.

    It balled itself in knots, slithered through the tongs and, a couple of times, popped its head over the bucket and peered at the crowd.

    Kelley Fox is the urban wildlife planner for Arizona’s Pinal County, and has been studying reptiles for years.


    The original article contains 1,208 words, the summary contains 154 words. Saved 87%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

  • stoly@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    If this pans out with other studies, it tells me that most snakebites are usually caused by people attempting to handle them.

  • CRUMBGRABBER@lemm.ee
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    7 months ago

    As a proud member of the snake community, I would ask that you stand with us in this difficult time.