Dung beetles are among the strongest animals in the world. They also possess an exceptional ability to cooperate. Research shows that female and male spider dung beetles together are able to move large dung balls across difficult obstacles. However, same-sex attempts to do the same always ended in aggressive fights.

Dung beetles live in and on animal droppings. By breaking down organic substances, the tiny insects play an invisible yet important role in nature. Researchers have now discovered another task at which dung beetles excel.

Female and male spider dung beetles managed, in a kind of synchronized dance, to move balls of droppings, equivalent to 10 times their body weight over vertical obstacles of height up to 20 centimeters. The experiments were carried out in South Africa and Italy under the leadership of biology researcher Claudia Tocco from Lund University.

“We were very surprised to see that they could cooperate and help each other move an object without knowing its final destination. This is an ability that only humans possess. We believe that the dung beetles use tactile communication, but this has not yet been proven,” says Tocco.

Another discovery was that the spider dung beetles roll their dung balls in a straight path even if they encounter obstacles along the way. When a rock or a log appears, they simply climb over the obstacle. The researchers were also able to establish that the advanced cooperation and climbing only applied to pairs of dung beetles of different sexes.

“When spider dung beetles of the same sex would try to cooperate, it always ended in serious fights that resulted in the dung ball breaking, or one of the dung beetles running away with it,” says Tocco.

California is home to eight species of rattlesnakes. The reptiles can be seen on hiking trails, rural roads and even in your backyard, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The California Poison Control System said it receives hundreds of reports of rattlesnake bites every year, especially during peak rattlesnake season.

The venomous creatures tend to mate in the early summer. With young rattlers set to make their debut, you’re sure to see more of the scaly reptiles, experts say.

Here’s what to know and how to stay safe in California this rattlesnake season:

When are baby rattlesnakes born?

Rattlesnakes are most active outdoors from April through October, typically mating in the warmer months before giving birth in the fall, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Female rattlesnakes will seek out old rodent burrows and tight crevices for nesting, and can give birth to as many as 25 babies in a litter, experts say.

The newborns will spend one or two weeks with mom before leaving the nest.

What do baby rattlers look like?

Young rattlesnakes look much like their adult counterparts—just smaller, according to Sciencing.com

Distinguishable features include a “large, triangular head that tapers quickly” and “thick bodies that taper at both ends.”

Baby rattlesnakes are usually between 6 and 12 inches long, the website said.

In comparison, adults can grow up to 8 feet long.

The vipers typically have diamond-shaped patterns on their backs, although the colors vary depending on their environment, experts say.

“Baby snakes have the same markings as adults, and the patterns may be even brighter and more noticeable,” Sciencing.com reported.

Do baby rattlesnakes have rattles?

Baby rattlesnakes are born “with a small rattle or button” on their tails, though they may be unable to make that tell-tale buzz until new segments of their rattle develop, according to the California Fish and Wildlife Department.

Made from keratin, the rattles grow a new “segment” each time a rattlesnake sheds its skin or molts, which can happen multiple times a year.

The vipers, regardless of age, don’t always rattle before they strike, however.

“In reality, most rattlesnakes don’t rattle unless they’re very stressed out,” said Emily Taylor, a biological sciences professor at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.

“You’ll walk by them and they’re curled up like forbidden cinnamon rolls,” said Taylor, who oversees the university’s Physiological Ecology of Reptiles Lab. “Camouflage is their first line of defense.”

Where are snakes and their young usually found?

Rattlesnakes and their young can be found in every corner of California and thrive in various habitats, according to the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“Rattlesnakes can live in rural and urban areas, on riverbanks, in parks and at golf courses,” the department’s website says. “They may also turn up around homes and yards in brushy areas and under wood piles.”

The scaly creatures require rocky, open areas to bask, experts say. Habitats with places to hide and a nearby water source are also a must.

Should you come across one in the wild—or steps from your front porch—experts say it’s best to keep your distance.

What should I do if I’m bitten by a rattlesnake?

While they’re smaller in size, a bite from a baby rattlesnake can be just as dangerous if treatment isn’t swift.

Youngsters release less venom but their poison can be more potent, according to Taylor.

There’s also what’s known as a “dry bite” when no venom is released “because venom creation and use can be energetically expensive,” the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said.

Either way, experts say rattlesnake bites require immediate attention.

“Severe or even life-threatening symptoms may occur within minutes or couple of hours after a rattlesnake bite,” according to the California Poison Control System. “As rattlesnake bites can be deadly, your best bet is to call 911 and get to a hospital as soon as you can.”

Bites are rare, however, and typically occur when a rattlesnake feels threatened, experts say.

Otherwise, the snakes try their best to avoid human contact.

How do I stay safe?

Prevention is key when it comes to avoiding a rattlesnake bite, experts say.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife offers several tips to avoid run-ins with the venomous vipers:

• Stay alert when you’re outdoors.
• Wear sturdy boots and loose-fitting long pants.
• Stay on well-used trails, avoiding tall grass, weeds, and heavy underbrush.
• Check rocks, stumps or logs before sitting down.
• Shake out your sleeping bag and tent before use.
• Let others know where you’re going, when you plan to return, and carry a cellphone.
• Use the buddy system.

2024 The Sacramento Bee. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.