This is incredible footage and even more so when you realise that almost every time you think you have seen snake predation on TV it has been cleverly constructed from various shots - big closeups of fangs striking the camera etc. This is mostly due to animal welfare controls - legal restrictions, and the BBC's strict policies when working with animals. So the best way to show the true behaviour is in the wild. It is very rare, however, that the opportunity arises to do this, and in this case it was because of the cooperation from a group of dedicated scientists who were tracking and monitoring several rattlesnakes in the field. Still it proved a huge challenge as you will see in the "Under the Skin" section of programme Four of "Life in Cold Blood".
The fearsome hunting skills of a wild rattlesnake have been caught on camera for the first time. Using a specially designed camera trap, a BBC crew managed to film the snake killing and then eating his victim - a small mouse - in the wild.
The mouse died almost immediately after being stabbed and injected with the timber rattlesnake's deadly venom.
The snake hunt was filmed in New York State, US, under the guidance of rattlesnake expert Harry Greene.
He helped the crew track the snake by using radio telemetry.
The footage forms part of the BBC One series Life in Cold Blood.
Life In Cold Blood is on BBC One on Monday, 25 February at 2100 GMT.
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