Silent Rattle, Empty Den

Something is wrong on the mountain.  There are places in these granite hills where eastern timber rattlesnakes still bask and congregate.  Despite hundreds of years of human fear and ignorance and relentless pressure from illegal poaching, these heavy bodied snakes persist in parts of the Berkshire and Litchfield Hills and in isolated pockets across the northeast Highlands where they are legally protected as state-listed rare species.

But one of the largest dens in our area, a site where it was common only a couple of years ago to find dozens of snakes at a time, is virtually devoid of timber rattlesnakes this year.  State wildlife officials and licensed rattlesnake monitors are alarmed that only a couple of snakes have been seen and, what is more disturbing, there are no gravid females.  At this time of year, there should be many snakes close to their birthing and denning areas, yet at this superb occurrence the woods are empty and the breeding females are gone.

I have posted before on the fragile relationship between these much maligned serpents and the ecology of this region.   Even under the best of circumstances, timber rattlesnakes have poor reproductive success and their populations remain stable.  The loss of a reproducing female has a disproportionately large impact on the entire population. Predation and other natural mortality cannot account for the apparent loss of an entire reproductive class of mature individuals within a single population.  With persistent searches by conservation authorities yielding the same disappointing results, the only logical explanation is that someone, or a group of individuals, is deliberately depleting this site and removing gravid females.

The network of nuisance rattlesnake responders that works with conservation authorities to monitor den sites in this region has been closely monitoring a known individual with close ties to this area and who has stated his intention of reestablishing timber rattlesnake populations in New Hampshire and Maine.  Misguided and illegal tampering with established dens has no basis in conservation science and is without sanction or justification.  This individual is offering rewards for information about existing den sites in northern New England where timber rattlesnakes are thought to be extirpated. 

Anyone who offers cash for the location of timber rattlesnake populations in states where they are protected rare species, and who is not a fully sanctioned representative of the appropriate state agency with authority for the conservation of this species, is not to be trusted.  Anyone who moves a timber rattlesnake without such authority, especially across state lines, is breaking the law.  Anyone with any information about such individuals should contact the appropriate law enforcement and conservation authorities.

In the meantime, there is a hole in the heart of the mountain, an absence that most of us will never recognize but is there nonetheless.  Whether this site becomes yet another empty den, or remains a sanctuary for these rare snakes, depends on our collective ability to curtail illegal harvesting of gravid females. The species cannot afford a second year like this at this site.

Comments

[Sarpy Sam]

Something similar around my neck of the woods is what they call "bucket Biology." This is where fishermen move fish from one watershed to another because they think it is appropriate. Then the invading fish destroy the native fish in an area.

One of the first discussions I always have with a hired hand when he signs on is that only in the direst of circumstances do we kill any critters on my place. Rattlesnakes, skunks, fox, porcupine, badger and many others that ranchers normally kill I leave alone. They have a place in the ecology, most of them don't overproduce, and they aren't harming us.

About the only critter I make an exception for is prairie dogs. Them things breed so fast that the only way to control them is shoot them when you see them. Otherwise you will have thousands of acres taken over by them in a few years. Usually the plague hits them then and kills most of them but I just don't want the boom and bust on my place. Plenty of other land they are taking over, they don't need mine.

[GreenmanTim]

No, I believe this individual is motivated by the prospect of reestablishing snakes in parts of their historic range where they have been extirpated. This is a very risky strategy that is not his to adopt, and even if a reputable restoration effort were undertaken by the appropriate authorites, depopulating a robust site to try and colonize an unoccupied one is highly irresponsible and would not be considered.

[Laura]

Do you mean this person has relocated the snakes to what he thinks is a better site?