Increased temperatures will allow these snakes to also be active during nighttime

Jan 9, 2013 15:39 GMT  ·  By

According to a new study carried out by a researcher working with the University of Illinois, ratsnakes might actually turn out to be huge fans of global warming and climate change.

This is because, as a result of increased average temperatures, these snakes will most likely shift towards being night time predators and start going about their business after the sun goes down.

In other words, while other animal species stand to have a rather difficult time adapting to the new environmental conditions in which they are forced to live, ratnakes are unlikely to have any issues getting about in slightly warmer habitats.

However, this does not mean that people need to begin worrying about a ratsnakes population boom.

“If we start with the premise that with a thermal increase snakes will do better, the snake population may increase, but snakes are also facing diminished habitat and have a high road mortality,” researcher Patrick Weatherhead wished to emphasize.