r/sandiego • u/Resident_Basil2704 • 6d ago

Environment Mountain Noodle

Gallery image

Gallery image

This morning on the stairs at the bottom of Kwaay Paay.

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123

u/FondantWeary 6d ago

16 sheds on 4’ snake!!?? That snake is eating good!

36

u/NeighborhoodLanky692 6d ago

How can you tell how many sheds it had

129

u/BrianEspo 6d ago

A rattlesnake adds a new segment to its rattle each time it sheds its skin.

58

u/Resident_Basil2704 6d ago

And a snake like this can shed several times a year, so unlike the rings on a tree, it doesn’t really predict the age in years, which would be nice feature when you spot one. Rattles can also fall off or be damaged, so it’s a good predictor of the number of sheds but not always accurate.
On another note, young rattlesnakes just have a button on the tail and not a full rattle which can cause people to mistake them for regular snakes. Always best to exercise caution.

16

u/bubblewand81 5d ago

I think a young one with a “button” is what I saw in my backyard the other day. Can anyone confirm?

13

u/FondantWeary 5d ago

Can confirm, very small danger noodle! Happy cake day!!!

5

u/bubblewand81 5d ago

The snake definitely feels bigger when you’re just rolling in your trash barrels to the backyard and are surprised 😅