Today I Learned (TIL)

6565 readers

15 users here now

You learn something new every day; what did you learn today?

/c/til is a community for any true knowledge that you would like to share, regardless of topic or of source.

Share your knowledge and experience!

Rules

Information must be true
Follow site rules
No, you don't have to have literally learned the fact today
Posts must be about something you learned

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

309

TIL scientists stepped on 175 rattlesnakes with a fake leg to see how many would bite. The study found that only 6 bit. The rest just froze or tried to wiggle away. Snakes just want to be left alone. (www.npr.org)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

23 comments fedilink hide all child comments

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] stoly 7 points 6 months ago (2 children)

They aren't worried about what sort of appendage is going towards them. They don't have that level of cognition. I should think that if you piss off a gorilla with a fake leg, that gorilla would understand that it's a fake leg and still be mad at you.

[–] potpotato 9 points 6 months ago

Theyre pit vipers with heat sensory organs.

[–] Revonult 3 points 6 months ago

I think the biggest factor is pressure. A person would put their full weight down because they don't know the snake is there. This would probably hurt the snake and warrent a panic/significant response. I doubt the fake foot was applied with the same pressure because ethical reasons.