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Abstract
The timber rattlesnake (
Crotalus horridus) is a species of conservation concern throughout much of its geographic range and may serve as a sentinel species in investigations of the effects of timber harvesting on forest reptiles. Our objective was to determine the effect of even-aged timber management regimes on timber rattlesnake home range and movements. During pre-treatment data collection in 2007 and 2008, we tracked 23 rattlesnakes on 4 units of the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment in Indiana. Home-range sizes of male rattlesnakes (65.7 ha) were greater than non-gravid (20.6 ha) and gravid (17.6 ha) females. Home ranges were generally consistent among units and between treatments. These data will allow us to test for immediate responses of timber rattlesnakes to even-aged timber management.
Parent Publication
Keywords
bats,
beetles,
birds,
Central Hardwoods,
experiment,
forest management,
human attitudes,
Indiana,
moths,
oak,
reptiles,
salamanders,
silviculture,
small mammals,
wildlife
Citation
MacGowan, Brian J.; Walker, Zachary J. 2013. Spatial ecology of timber rattlesnakes on the hardwood ecosystem experiment: pre-treatment results. In: Swihart, Robert K.; Saunders, Michael R.; Kalb, Rebecca A.; Haulton, G. Scott; Michler, Charles H., eds. 2013. The Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment: a framework for studying responses to forest management. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-108. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 86-94.
