Q&A with Dr. Matt Goode on a Rattlesnake's Seasonal Snooze

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 As we go into the winter season here in Tucson, Dr. Matt Goode discusses some of the fascinating adaptations rattlesnakes have evolved to cope with stressful wintertime conditions. He also describes where rattlesnakes find refuge during a Tucson winter and why someone might see them out on a warm day. Of particular importance is the thermal sensitivity of ectotherms, and climate change may alter or mismatch ecological cues signaling favorable reproductive conditions. To find out more details, view the full interview here. Dr. Goode is an assistant research scientist in SNRE investigating the ecology and conservation of herpetofauna, focusing particularly on the effects of urbanization on snakes.