The female, however, enters a physiological crucible. Whether she is oviparous (egg-laying) or viviparous (live-bearing), she stops eating. A pregnant rattlesnake will find a warm, rocky outcropping (a rookery) and effectively bake herself in the sun to incubate the embryos internally.
Post-mating, the male leaves immediately. He has lost significant body weight (up to 30% in some species) and will spend the rest of the summer eating to survive the next brumation.
As spring temperatures rise, many ecosystems experience a surge in reptile activity. For most temperate-climate species, the mating season for
