When “night-driving” what are better conditions, New moon or some moon (e.g. half moon)? During a FULL moon, I seldom find snakes on roads. Therefore, I am thinking no moon is best. However, do some snakes need at least a little light to see where they are going? In addition, if snakes are more active during New moon phase, than wouldn’t smaller snakes wanting to avoid being eaten by the larger snakes, avoid being active during the New Moon?
Mammals/owls need some moon to see, so it is obvious that they have harder time hunting during new moon phases. Thus, snakes wanting to avoid being eaten by mammals/birds are more active during new moon phase.
Pit vipers (Rattlesnakes) need no light to hunt, because they have heat-sensing pits. Therefore, total darkness of the New moon phases is preferred.
However, how about the smaller snakes that do not possess heat sensing pits. Black-headed snakes for example, they do not have pits and are vulnerable of being eaten by larger snake that are active during new moon phase. Wouldn’t it be an advantage for them to be active during a half-moon phase rather than FULL or NEW moon phase? Thus, small snakes wanting to avoid mammals/birds during the full moon, and larger snakes during the new moon phase, would prefer to be active during around a half moon phase.
I am interested in theories or opinion regarding what moon phase would be best to find small snakes on roads.
Note: It is understood that mammals/birds are active during all phases of the moon, im simply stating that they have harder time hunting during new moon phase. The same can be said for large snakes, they too are active during all phases of the moon. I’m just saying that they are more active during new moon phase.
