Timber rattlesnakes and changing land use: A management plan for the Catskill Park, New York

The Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is classified as a threatened species in New York State. To provide a useful approach to protect the Timber Rattlesnake in the Catskill Park four principle areas are addressed: (1) I apply a literature review identifying habitat requirements and movement patterns of the Timber Rattlesnake to help understand the behavior and distribution of the snake in the Catskill Park, (2) I use Geographic Information System (GIS) layers to characterize and analyze the predicted Timber Rattlesnake habitat (32,954 ha) in the Catskill Park, (3) I prioritize 8977 land parcels requiring different management techniques, and (4) I review the laws and regulations that can be used to protect not only the Timber Rattlesnake but its habitat as well. The information developed from this analysis is then used to formulate management policies including habitat acquisition and education, for specific populations of the Timber Rattlesnake in the Catskill Park, New York.