Rattlesnake check-ups? See tiny but venomous babies get exams — ‘very carefully’
Five tiny but venomous creatures got their check-ups — “very carefully.”
While handling a group of baby rattlesnakes, a video shows a North Carolina rescue team using tongs, a tube and other equipment. During the exam, they checked the weight, markings and sex of each of the babies.
“We never handle them without tools and safety precautions,” Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, which is based in the Charlotte-area town of Indian Trail, wrote Sept. 13 in a Facebook post. “They are born venomous and capable of biting.”
The babies all were determined to be healthy after their mom, Athena, welcomed them Sept. 8. She landed at the rescue in May after experiencing a rough patch.
Athena was found injured in Onslow County, which lies along the coast. She had been attacked by at least one dog, and rescuers determined she suffered damage to her spine, they wrote in past Facebook posts and in an email to McClatchy News.
“Her injuries were severe, and at the time I wasn’t sure she was going to live,” the animal organization wrote.
Then in September, rescuers learned Athena was pregnant and experiencing complications, likely due to her injuries. Several of her little ones, including a two-headed snake, died.
Athena’s five surviving babies include two boys and three girls. Rescuers are waiting to hear back from wildlife officials on the next steps for the newborns, who may not be able to go into the wild after living in captivity.
“They all have very distinctive personalities,” the rescue wrote. “Some seem to be more docile, while others (are) a little spicier. We named one Baby Spice because he charges the glass every time we come into the room.”
The other babies are named Erich, Jigsaw, Luna and Velvet. The siblings could end up being ambassadors for educational purposes, and their mom will need a place to live, according to rescuers.
Athena and her babies are timber rattlesnakes, which are “reluctant to rattle or bite” and most often live in parts of Eastern and Western North Carolina. They’re known as “ambush predators” that can grow to be more than 5 feet long, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission wrote on its website.
“These heavy-bodied snakes are characterized by dark crossbands or chevrons on a lighter background,” wildlife experts wrote. “Timber rattlesnakes inhabit forested areas, and in the mountains, they will often hibernate together in large numbers.”
This story was originally published September 15, 2025 at 12:48 PM with the headline "Rattlesnake check-ups? See tiny but venomous babies get exams — ‘very carefully’."
