The Rattlesnake fight

The week long sail is over.  People roasted by the sun have returned home.  The highlight of the trip was the rattlesnake fight.  Now no one is sure if it was a fight of a mating process.  Do rattlesnakes fight for proof of who is the dominant male? More research is needed, but this is what we saw.  After a slow sail down the Little Missouri to our usual spot near Quinn's crack the sailboats tied to shore.  The location is unique because the boats go about a half mile up a creek to tie off to the shore.  The little inlet is very narrow and the boats are on one side with an embankment on the other.  As the sailors sat on their boats doing what sailors do, drinking, eating, and telling lies, someone notices two rattlesnakes on the bank across from the boats.  These were big snakes.  The snakes were involved in what seemed like a strange mating ritual. The snakes would intertwine and do all sorts of snake gymnastics. In and out of the water they tumbled.  After an interlude they went back up the bank to the den.  Shortly they were back fighting or mating or doing whatever weird thing they were up to.  Quite a bit of commentary ensued of a sexual nature as various people tried to put words to what they thought was going through the snakes minds.  Some suggested they would have a cigarette after the mating ritual and we would see a puff of smoke.  As the fleet sailed homeward someone checked the internet to see exactly what the snakes were up to.  This is what led to the speculation it was two males fighting.

Of course a couple people had to get close to the snakes for pictures and videos of the action.  A small inflatable craft was launched for this purpose.  Now all the sailors which had been hiking and casually carrying on were concerned about the rattlesnake threat.  One boat put up their version of Trump's wall on the back of their boat to keep the snakes out at night.  It worked they were not attacked by rattlesnakes that night.  Kadizzle must admit these were the largest rattlesnakes he has ever seen.  Walk, hike, and enjoy North Dakota, but be prudent, look for these creatures.  They will run if you give them a chance, but it does not pay to surprize them.