Habitat manipulation as a viable strategy for the conservation of the massasauga rattlesnake in New York State

Habitat manipulation is seemingly gaining acceptance in snake conservation. To understand whether artificial hibernacula, prescribed fire and other such management interventions have been effective in the recovery of snake populations, I reviewed the available literature. Finding little evidence for management success, I caution against the unquestioned use of habitat manipulation in snake conservation. To gain insight into the effectiveness of basking-site enhancement as a management strategy for snakes, I evaluated the selection of basking habitat by eastern massasauga rattlesnakes ( Sistrurus c. catenatus) at two locations in New York State---one of which is threatened by woody plant succession. Although snakes at the heavily vegetated location---Cicero Swamp---selected the warmest microhabitats available to them, the average temperature at basking sites was substantially lower than at an open-canopy reference location---Bergen Swamp. Therefore, artificial enhancement of basking habitat will likely improve the conservation status of the massasauga rattlesnake at Cicero Swamp.; Key Words. snake conservation, habitat management, eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus c. catenatus), thermoregulation, operative temperature (Te), ecological succession, crypsis, evidence-based conservation...