Like the cartoon, Road Runners can be seen speeding down desert roads at 15 to 20 miles per hour over long distances. Although they do fly they prefer to run as it gives them a greater advantage at catching small reptile’s, birds and insects. They use their scraggly tale to steer like a rudder on a boat. Road Runners are famous for their snake dance, where they will tease a rattle snake with a little dance till they can cease an opportunity to grab the snake behind the neck, then it proceeds to smash its head and body off the nearest rock till the bones and scull are smashed. This makes it easy for our little friend to swallow the snake whole.
Road Runners are specially adapted to their desert environment and they do not need to drink much water. They get most of their liquids from prey and avoid the midday sun. To cool down they pant like a dog.
They mate for life, when they first meet the male offers the female the gift of a small animal which she only eats after the courtship. After mating the male brings food to the female to get her in good condition. There is a high death rate among the young, usually only the first hatched surviving.
Road runners are welcome among human desert dwellers as they keep the venomous snake population under control. They are doing very well as a species.
Bleep Bleep!
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