Latest news with #ColoradoRattlecamLivestream
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Watch hundreds of rattlesnakes in Colorado 'mega den' emerge from hibernation
A "mega den" of rattlesnakes are ready for their day in the sun. Some snakes have started to emerge from their winter hibernation to bask in the spring sun on the rocky hillside they call home. Like last year, they'll do it for the world to see as their movements are streamed live on Project RattleCam — a collaborative project between scientists from California Polytechnic State University, Central Coast Snake Services and Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. The den is located on undisclosed private property in Colorado, where hundreds of rattlesnakes are expected to emerge in May, according to Owen Bachhuber, a California Polytechnic State University graduate student who helps run Project RattleCam. The location of the site is intentionally kept secret for the protection of the snakes, Bacchhuber said. The project's Colorado livestream started in 2024, bringing in 2.5 million views that year. At the height of its media coverage in the summer of 2024, the stream had more than 180,000 viewers in one day, according to Bacchuber. Another rattlecam live stream is set up in California, though that one is "hibernating," according to the site. The Cal Poly researchers installed the first RattleCam along the central coast of California in summer 2021. That cam was up and running each summer since and was switched back on last year in July. As spring turns to summer, viewers can expect to see pregnant female rattlesnakes stay in the Colorado mega den as they prepare to give birth. Last year, however, researchers were surprised to see a few males — including one viewers named Thor — sticking around the den in the summer, Bachhuber said. The project is studying the social dynamics of the snakes by tracking individuals from their scale patterns, "which are as unique as a human fingerprint," Bachhuber said. Viewers can help by taking part in Project RattleCam's 'Name a Snake' community science contest, which gets viewers to name and track snakes on the livestream. So far, nearly two dozen of the den's rattlesnakes have been identified and named, according to the project's website. Project RattleCam also seeks to raise awareness about rattlesnakes and their importance in the ecosystem, per its website. Yes, there's two of them. Go to and you'll see the Colorado feed. You can also click and be sent to a live feed on YouTube: The Colorado Rattlecam Livestream of a Prairie Rattlesnake rookery runs 24-7 from May to October. Coming later: The California Rattlesnake Rookery Livestream, which ran last year 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day from July through October. Contributing: Mike Snider, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: See rattlesnakes in 'mega den' emerge from hibernation on RattleCam
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Watch hundreds of rattlesnakes come out of 'mega den' ahead of new Pennsylvania webcam
The group behind the popular RattleCam livestreams, which showcase hundreds of rattlesnakes in California and Colorado, are expanding east. In April, researchers with Project RattleCam commenced its "mega den" northern Colorado livestream for the second year, allowing anyone to watch the reptilian internet stars as they come out of winter hibernation. The California livestream, which debuted in 2021, is expected to resume sometime this summer. After recently achieving the more funding, a new livestream in Pennsylvania will likely debut in the spring of 2026, according to Owen Bachhuber, a California Polytechnic State University graduate student who helps run Project RattleCam. The new camera has the possibility of showcasing other types of snakes, like copperheads, as well as different animals like black bears. "We want everyone to be able to see what would a snake that might live near them be doing, and so that's part of the appeal of the Pennsylvania camera to give representation to the people out in the east," Bachhuber told USA TODAY on May 13. "We're hoping to continue to broaden the reach of the RattleCam and its impact." Bachhuber said the project continues to educate the public about the snakes, including young students who observe the livestream in science classes under a newly published curriculum. Researchers have already begun to note fascinating facts through the Colorado livestream, which will showcase hundreds of rattlesnakes emerging from an undisclosed private property. "Notably, there were a couple of snakes who had pretty severe injuries, like missing tails or head wounds or big scars. We've actually seen those snakes come out of hibernation all healed up, so that's been really encouraging for us," he added. Project RattleCam examines the the social dynamics of the snakes through their unique scale patterns and aims to challenge a longtime negative stigma toward rattlesnakes. Scientists from California Polytechnic State University, Dickinson College in Pennsylvania and Central Coast Snake Services have partnered to create Project RattleCam. Its first livestream launched in summer 2021 along the central coast of California. The exact location of the den complex are withheld for the snakes' safety, according to Bachhuber. Both rattlesnake livestreams are available on and on Project RattleCam's YouTube channel, though only the Colorado feed is running as of May 13. The Colorado Rattlecam Livestream of a Prairie Rattlesnake rookery runs 24-7 from May to October. Coming later: The California Rattlesnake Rookery Livestream, which ran last year from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day from July through October. Project RattleCam's Colorado livestream lured more than 2.5 million views in its debut year of 2024, even reaching over 180,000 viewers in one day, Bacchuber said. Contributing: Erin Udell and Mike Snider, USA TODAY NETWORK This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Mega den' webcam to stream rattlesnakes, copperheads in Pennsylvania
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Watch hundreds of rattlesnakes come out of 'mega den' ahead of new Pennsylvania webcam
Watch hundreds of rattlesnakes come out of 'mega den' ahead of new Pennsylvania webcam Show Caption Hide Caption Rattlesnake 'mega den' emerges from hibernation Dozens of rattlesnakes apart of a large colony were spotted basking in the sun. The group behind the popular RattleCam livestreams, which showcase hundreds of rattlesnakes in California and Colorado, are expanding east. In April, researchers with Project RattleCam commenced its "mega den" northern Colorado livestream for the second year, allowing anyone to watch the reptilian internet stars as they come out of winter hibernation. The California livestream, which debuted in 2021, is expected to resume sometime this summer. After recently achieving the more funding, a new livestream in Pennsylvania will likely debut in the spring of 2026, according to Owen Bachhuber, a California Polytechnic State University graduate student who helps run Project RattleCam. The new camera has the possibility of showcasing other types of snakes, like copperheads, as well as different animals like black bears. "We want everyone to be able to see what would a snake that might live near them be doing, and so that's part of the appeal of the Pennsylvania camera to give representation to the people out in the east," Bachhuber told USA TODAY on May 13. "We're hoping to continue to broaden the reach of the RattleCam and its impact." Bachhuber said the project continues to educate the public about the snakes, including young students who observe the livestream in science classes under a newly published curriculum. Researchers have already begun to note fascinating facts through the Colorado livestream, which will showcase hundreds of rattlesnakes emerging from an undisclosed private property. "Notably, there were a couple of snakes who had pretty severe injuries, like missing tails or head wounds or big scars. We've actually seen those snakes come out of hibernation all healed up, so that's been really encouraging for us," he added. What is Project RattleCam? Project RattleCam examines the the social dynamics of the snakes through their unique scale patterns and aims to challenge a longtime negative stigma toward rattlesnakes. Scientists from California Polytechnic State University, Dickinson College in Pennsylvania and Central Coast Snake Services have partnered to create Project RattleCam. Its first livestream launched in summer 2021 along the central coast of California. The exact location of the den complex are withheld for the snakes' safety, according to Bachhuber. Where to watch the rattlesnakes livestream Both rattlesnake livestreams are available on and on Project RattleCam's YouTube channel, though only the Colorado feed is running as of May 13. The Colorado Rattlecam Livestream of a Prairie Rattlesnake rookery runs 24-7 from May to October. Coming later: The California Rattlesnake Rookery Livestream, which ran last year from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day from July through October. How many people watch rattlesnakes livestream? Project RattleCam's Colorado livestream lured more than 2.5 million views in its debut year of 2024, even reaching over 180,000 viewers in one day, Bacchuber said. Contributing: Erin Udell and Mike Snider, USA TODAY NETWORK
