Effects and effectiveness of rattlesnake relocation at Montezuma Castle National Monument
Nowak EM and van Riper C. 1999. Effects and effectiveness of rattlesnake relocation at Montezuma Castle National Monument. USGSFRESC/COPL/1999/17. USGS Colorado Plateau Field Station, Northern Arizona University. Flagstaff, AZ
To examine the effects of relocation on rattlesnakes and the effectiveness of relocation as a management technique at the monument, we developed the following objectives: 1) Determine location of rattlesnake hibernacula and summer foraging areas; 2) Determine the reasons for rattlesnake presence in visitor use areas; 3) Compare the behavior, activity range size, movement patterns, indices of condition, and mortality rates of rattlesnakes that are experimentally relocated to control snakes that are not relocated (i.e. snakes that are left in their original activity range); 4) Determine the homing ability of snakes relocated outside of their "normal" activity range; and 5) Assess the effectiveness of rattlesnake relocation as a management tool. Based on the results of these objectives, we developed guidelines for rattlesnake management at the monument.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Nowak, Erika; van Riper, Charles
- Date of Issue
- 1999-06
- Publisher
- USGS Colorado Plateau Field Station, Northern Arizona University
- Units
- MOCA , SODN
- Keywords
- 2, Animal Studies, Animals, Herps, Inventory and Monitoring (I&M), Management, Nice, NRCA, rattlesnakes, Reptiles, Reptilia (Reptiles)