This four rattlesnakes and other snake were found under a 24 inch by eight foot
corrugated tin sheet the kind that are used for  some roofs. It was in december and
the weather was cool. I did not notice if the temperature under the tin was above
ambient temperature. Since these snakes depend on the environment to regulate
their body temperature, I have to believe that their location was related to temperature. I
have no idea why they were in a group other than a wild guess, that they were
hibernating. The presence of the non-poisonous snake is also of confusing. When I
found the snakes I had to  leave them and  walk a couple of hundred feet to the
house, get and prepare the camera.  I more or less expected that  one or more of
the snakes would crawl away, but they didn't. Because they did not crawl away,
I believe that they were not in a "normal active state".  I have never hunted and
killed any animal, unless absolutely necessary.  I suppose killing a rattlesnake is
absolutely necessary.

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