September 7th, 2018. One of 2 live neonates encountered exhibiting this behavior on the road.

Of note: 2 more neonate rattlesnakes were found dead, next to a known parturition site, less than 5” apart, struck on the roadway during the same rain event. No way to tell, but I suspect they were harvesting rain in a similar manner. Based on my personal knowledge and experience, snakes do not come to roads to
drink (they can use their scales to collect rain wherever they please). However (again, based on personal experience), when a precipitation event coincides with a road crossing attempt, the snake tends to become all-consumed with drinking and will consequently remain stationary on the roadway while drinking, therefore increasing their chance of road mortality.

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