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ELWOOD — The community of Elwood was warned to be vigilant that rattlesnakes had been reported in town over the weekend.
Elwood Fire and Rescue took to social media to warn residents that the snakes had been reported within town over the past two days on Monday, June 9.
Nebraska is home to two species of venomous rattlesnakes including the prairie rattlesnake and the timber rattlesnake.
According to Nebraska Game and Parks, the prairie rattlesnakes are usually colored, “greenish, light gray or sometimes brown colored snake with darker blotches running down the length of the back. The bands are darker towards the head and turn into cross bands and become lighter towards the tail, with a rattle on the end.”
Adult prairie rattlesnakes can range in size from 35-45 inches long. Being a pit viper this snake has a triangular shaped head.
These snakes make their habitat in mixed grass and short grass prairies; they are often found in association with prairie dog towns as well. The prairie rattlesnake can be found in the western half of the state.
This snake feeds almost exclusively on small mammals, but will also take birds, and lizards.
“During breeding season, like other rattlesnakes, males will often compete in combat rituals where they intertwine and try to knock each other to the ground for the right to breed with the females,” per Nebraska Game and Parks.
“Females will then give birth the following summer to eight to 18 live babies, as the species does not lay eggs. Some evidence supports that females will show parental care, which is highly unusual for snakes,” Nebraska Game and Parks website states.
Timber rattlesnakes are more localized, being found in the extreme southeastern corner of Nebraska.
