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Taylor Ranch
Wilderness Field Station
University of Idaho
HC 83 Box 8070
Cascade, ID 83611
Satellite Phone:
1-254-543-9291
Fax at Arnold Aviation:
208-382-3941
Email:
tayranch@hughes.net
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| Research |
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 Javan Bauder
Master's Candidate
Biological Sciences, Idaho State University
DeVlieg Taylor Assistantship 2007-2009
Professor
Dr. Chuck Peterson, Idaho State University
Movement and habitat selection of prairie rattlesnakes in the Big Creek drainage of the Frank Church Wilderness
Background and Planning
DeVlieg Taylor Undergraduate Scholar 2006
Abstract
Research Summary
Many species of reptiles and amphibians at the northern latitudes of western North America make seasonal movements between over-wintering, breeding, and foraging habitats. However, topography and recent fire disturbance have the potential to act as barriers to these movements. Prairie rattlesnakes are known to exhibit long-distance, straight lined movements between hibernacula and summer foraging/breeding habitat, yet it is largely unknown how these movements are affected by topography and recent fire disturbance.
 Understanding how such barriers influence these movements can contribute to our knowledge of how animals modify their behavior to obtain key resources and can aid in establishing suitable management and conservation guidelines for this species. Although the prairie rattlesnake is widespread throughout much of the western US, its distribution in Idaho is restricted to the upper Salmon River drainage. This species is fairly common in the lower Big Creek drainage. The rugged mountainous landscape of the Big Creek drainage make it an ideal location to study to effects of topography on rattlesnake movement and habitat selection and its location within the Frank Church Wilderness helps to minimize the effects of additional human disturbance. My study will examine the effects of prey and mate distribution, topography, and the effects of the 2006 Dunce Creek Fire on the movement patterns and habitat selection of prairie rattlesnakes in the Big Creek drainage of the Frank Church Wilderness in central Idaho.  
Update for Field Season 2008
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I have currently collected data on rattlesnake movement during the summers of 2006 and 2007 using radio telemetry. It appears that rattlesnakes in the Big Creek drainage are capable of fairly extensive movements in this rugged landscape. I have had some telemetered snakes move over 2.5 kilometers from their hibernaculum. Although some rattlesnakes will spend the summer in relatively low elevations near valley bottoms, others spend the summer along the tops and sides of ridges in upland habitats. I have also had rattlesnakes cross Big Creek and its tributaries. It appears that the mountainous topography of the Big Creek drainage does not act as an absolute barrier to rattlesnake movement. However, it does appear to influence their movements to some extent by causing some individuals to move along topographic features such as tributary drainages or ridge lines.
During 2007, I monitored six individuals that I also radio tracked in 2006. These individuals appeared to use the same general activity areas during both summers and also returned to the same area to over-winter. During the summer of 2008, I will radio track some rattlesnakes that I also tracked in 2006 and 2007 and so obtain movement data from up to three consecutive summers on these snakes. I will also sample the abundance of small mammal prey in different habitat types within the Big Creek drainage to see if rattlesnakes are using the most prey abundant habitats. |
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