Which prey item heavily features in drier, inland California diets versus cooler British Columbia diets?
Answer
Kangaroo rats
The specific composition of the Western Rattlesnake’s diet exhibits significant geographic variation dictated by local ecology and resource availability. Data comparing different regions highlights these differences clearly. For example, in the drier, inland regions of California, the diet is documented to heavily feature kangaroo rats. Conversely, this specific prey item is cited much less frequently in the dietary surveys conducted in the cooler, potentially wetter habitats found in British Columbia, illustrating how localized abundance dictates the snake's meal plan.
Related Questions
What prey forms the foundation of the adult Western Rattlesnake's diet across most distribution?Which prey item is juvenile *C. oreganus* disproportionately likely to consume?What primary method does the Western Rattlesnake use to secure prey?After striking prey, what cues does the Western Rattlesnake use to track the animal?What significant ecological service does the Western Rattlesnake provide by consuming small mammals?Which prey item heavily features in drier, inland California diets versus cooler British Columbia diets?What physical state follows the consumption of a substantial meal for *Crotalus oreganus*?Why are juvenile Western Rattlesnakes initially concentrated on smaller ectotherms?Which groups of prey are generally considered opportunistic rather than a dietary cornerstone for *Crotalus oreganus*?What consequence is noted when *Crotalus oreganus* populations are removed from a local area?