Program Highlight: Rattlesnakesss

by Asya L. Simons, Park Guide & School Programs Coordinator, Garden of the Gods Park

You’re walking along the trail and suddenly you hear a buzzing sound to your left. You’ve heard that sound before and you know exactly what friend you’ve found. You scan the tall grass as you slowly take a step back and…there it is! Beautiful dark splotches against a lighter background camouflaged against the ground – one end a set of buttons rattling in the air and the other a forked tongue exploring. It’s a rattlesnake!

Garden of the Gods is home to a healthy population of prairie rattlesnakes, and in warm weather they occasionally cross paths with our guests along the trails. You’ve probably heard that rattlesnakes are venomous, but do you know how and what they eat? What is their skeleton like? Why do they have rattles on their tails? How does Park Staff handle a snake who wants to bask in an inconvenient spot?

Come learn the answers to these questions and more every Wednesday at 3 pm in the Red Rocks Room. Started by longtime volunteer Jane Gasko and led by Jane or one of our Park Interpretive staff, this program answers all of the above questions and more! Come see our taxidermy snake, view a preserved skeleton, and learn some fun facts about these Park residents. This is a free, kid-friendly program. For any questions, call the Garden of the Gods Program Office at 719-219-0108. We’ll see you soon!