Kingsnake vs. WDB Rattlesnake

[OrryMartinTX]

Hello fellow herp lovers,

My name is Orry Martin and I am a Biology teacher in the state of Texas. I film snake documentaries for my students to help educate them about local wildlife and to hopefully build an appreciation for these magnificent reptiles. I recently filmed a Speckled Kingsnake documentary which includes footage detailing the behavior Rattlesnakes embrace when in the presence of a kingsnake. Please check it out and let me know how I can improve these films. Thanks and God Bless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl0Y8...el_video_title

Orry Martin

[mark and marley]

i dont know what to suggest but very informative and good footage,i did not know that other snakes recognize the king and fear it.thanks
and awesome shirt!

[OrryMartinTX]

Thanks for watching Mark and Marley. I appreciate the help and trying to assist me in enhancing my videos. The shirt is available through JKRgear.com if anyone would like to purchase it. They are a great bunch of guys who reward herpetological conservationist groups with the money made on products. I LOVE THEM!!

[dragonmoon]

That was pretty cool crazy how the rattler was using coils to block the king then when it gets its head close gets the heck outta there Nice video and always cool to learn something new

[jsmorphs2]

I really liked it, nicely done!

[wolfy-hound]

I enjoyed the video a lot! Lots of information but presented in a way that still made it interesting. Many informative videos are very dry and the presenter often just ends up reciting the information.

The one thing I'd probably change is the voiceover with the actual rattlesnake vs kingsnake. The laughter and comments made it sound more like someone enjoying pitting two snakes in a fight, rather than showing animal behavior. If it was just the printed comments without hearing the background voices/laughter, I think it'd sound better.

That's just my opinion but I prefer to see people who love the animals, and dislike anyone who sounds as if they're glorying in the "fight". That's why I mostly avoid feeding videos, as many end up with the background voices obviously enjoying watching a rat struggle and die. It just sounds bad to me.

I know you seem to really love the animals and showing how they interact and live. Just that bit was "off" to me. I'm totally going to be watching all the videos you have up, they look fascinating!

[OrryMartinTX]

Wolfyhound,

I am sorry that you got the impression that people were enjoying "two snakes fight." There was not a fight at all occurring, that is why we picked a rattlesnake too big for the kingsnake to eat. The kingsnake was not at all interested in the rattler, and the laughing was not because of a fight. The laughing was occurring in the sheer "awe" factor associated with the beastliness of the kingsnake. We were amazed at the behavior of the rattlesnake, not by the potential fight. Rattlers have such an exaggerrated attitude and it was incredible to watch the atrox cower down in the presence of a kingsnake.

Thank you so much for your critique though and I fully agree that the chatter needs to be taken out to avoid others thinking the same thing. Thanks to anyone else who has watched as well

[razrbak]

Nice vids Orry. Many look like my old stomping/collecting grounds between Spring and Tomball.