[This was an event during a Grand Canyon Hike taken with Steve Anthony, Bill Griffin, Andrew Mecom, Jeff Tesney that occurred in the afternoon of July 21, 2010]
After arriving at Indian Gardens following a hike from Phantom Ranch up Bright Angel Trail we settled into our camping area and rested. The plan was to visit Plateau Point later in the day but avoid the heat of the afternoon. Jeff, Bill and Steve used the time to wander the area looking at the sights. While walking in the area of a small stone storage facility the came upon a squirrel and a snake in a conflict. Bill came to let me know and I walked down to the site of the conflict directly in front of the wall of the building. The snake was pink in color and had the unmistakable marking and rattle associated with the Grand Canyon Rattler.
The squirrel, appeared to be taunting the rattler by standing on rear legs leaning forward toward the snake and swaying sideways (left and right) as if he was daring the snake to strike. The rattler eventually would lunge out at the snake only to be met by repeated swipes of sharp little claws which very accurately ripped across the face of the rattler. This was truly a struggle to remember. The most verminous deadly snake in north america being scratched and beaten by a lone scruffy looking squirrel repeatedly over a 30 minute time period. The process of squirrel taunting, rattler lunging, squirrel dodging and scratching continued for more than 20 minutes (the time I spent watching but I missed most of the action).
In the final play of the conflict the squirrel backed away from the rattler, went around the back of the rattler that was poised to strike in the forward direction and slapped it from behind! Clearly the squirrel got the better of the snake who in the end seemed blinded and dazed as it slithered away.
Later I spoke with a park ranger and related what we saw. He shared with me that he and another ranger actually saw two squirrels kill a rattler and drag off the body of the dead rattler. I asked him why squirrels are apparently so deadly in their treatment of rattlers and the ranged speculated that because rattlers have been known to enter squirrel dens to consume the young squirrels that this may be a protective behavior. That makes sense to me.
After arriving at Indian Gardens following a hike from Phantom Ranch up Bright Angel Trail we settled into our camping area and rested. The plan was to visit Plateau Point later in the day but avoid the heat of the afternoon. Jeff, Bill and Steve used the time to wander the area looking at the sights. While walking in the area of a small stone storage facility the came upon a squirrel and a snake in a conflict. Bill came to let me know and I walked down to the site of the conflict directly in front of the wall of the building. The snake was pink in color and had the unmistakable marking and rattle associated with the Grand Canyon Rattler.
The squirrel, appeared to be taunting the rattler by standing on rear legs leaning forward toward the snake and swaying sideways (left and right) as if he was daring the snake to strike. The rattler eventually would lunge out at the snake only to be met by repeated swipes of sharp little claws which very accurately ripped across the face of the rattler. This was truly a struggle to remember. The most verminous deadly snake in north america being scratched and beaten by a lone scruffy looking squirrel repeatedly over a 30 minute time period. The process of squirrel taunting, rattler lunging, squirrel dodging and scratching continued for more than 20 minutes (the time I spent watching but I missed most of the action).
In the final play of the conflict the squirrel backed away from the rattler, went around the back of the rattler that was poised to strike in the forward direction and slapped it from behind! Clearly the squirrel got the better of the snake who in the end seemed blinded and dazed as it slithered away.
Later I spoke with a park ranger and related what we saw. He shared with me that he and another ranger actually saw two squirrels kill a rattler and drag off the body of the dead rattler. I asked him why squirrels are apparently so deadly in their treatment of rattlers and the ranged speculated that because rattlers have been known to enter squirrel dens to consume the young squirrels that this may be a protective behavior. That makes sense to me.
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Please note that the views expressed here by me do not represent the views of McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, Archdiocese of Mobile or any part of the Universal Catholic Church.
