How do snakes obtain their lethal poison?
Snakes are supposed to hibernate and stay safely out of the way during the cold months. But in Florida where the winters may be mild, the poisonous cottonmouth stays active through most of the year. In the southwestern deserts, deadly rattlers may be out in December. All of the 3,000 different snakes in the world are meat eaters. Their groceries include fish and frogs, eggs, birds and assorted reptiles. But the majority of snake food is supplied by rats and other rodents. These furry mammals are quicker and smarter than the snakes that are not very well equipped to catch them. They have no padded paws for stealthy prowling and no legs for pouncing on their prey. Every snake, however, has some other means for catching and subduing his victims. His supple body enables him to creep up silently and almost invisibly. His rows of sharp teeth curve backward to help him grab and grip his prey while he swallows it alive, head first in one gulp. Grass snakes, king snakes and many others harmless
