All Resources

Status of the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis viridis) in Alberta : update 2012

Description

This wildlife status report looks at the prairie rattlesnake, one of three extant species of rattlesnake found in Alberta. It reaches the northern limit of its range in Alberta and is primarily... More ≫

Description

This wildlife status report looks at the prairie rattlesnake, one of three extant species of rattlesnake found in Alberta. It reaches the northern limit of its range in Alberta and is primarily distributed along major river drainages in the southeastern portion of the province. There appears to have been a long-term decline in abundance of the species in Alberta, likely related to significant historical persecution and habitat loss. At writing the prairie rattlesnake had a status of May Be At Risk. This report summarizes historical and recent information on the species as background information for a reassessment of its status. The report is part of the Alberta Wildlife Status Report series, which provides comprehensive summaries of selected wildlife species intended to be useful to those managing populations of species and their habitats, and to help identify species that may be formally designated as endangered or threatened.

Tags

Reproductive biology of female prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis viridis) in Alberta

Description

Many aspects of the biology of prairie rattlesnakes are not well described. This study used mark-recapture to follow the reproductive histories of female prairie rattlesnakes at two hibemacula in... More ≫

Description

Many aspects of the biology of prairie rattlesnakes are not well described. This study used mark-recapture to follow the reproductive histories of female prairie rattlesnakes at two hibemacula in southeastern Alberta over a three year period (2004-2006). In addition, radio-telemetry was used to track the movements of females, revealing the location of several rookeries where gravid females were aggregated. This findings contribute to the understanding of the species’ capacity to recover should populations decline, and a measure of the resilience of the species and its habitat to direct or indirect environmental pressures, aiding wildlife managers to determine the appropriate conservation status.

Tags

Rattlers and people : conserving rattlesnakes in Lethbridge

Description

A Lethbridge Rattlesnake Conservation Plan was developed in 2000. It was initiated in response to ongoing losses of prairie rattlesnakes in Lethbridge. This report summarizes the results of the... More ≫

Description

A Lethbridge Rattlesnake Conservation Plan was developed in 2000. It was initiated in response to ongoing losses of prairie rattlesnakes in Lethbridge. This report summarizes the results of the first five years of the Lethbridge Rattlesnake Conservation Program and provides recommendations for future conservation of rattlesnakes in Lethbridge.

Tags

Lethbridge rattlesnake conservation project : 2003 progress report

Description

Lethbridge is at the western edge of prairie rattlesnake range in Canada. Continued expansion of the city has resulted in a substantial loss of suitable rattlesnake habitat and special efforts are... More ≫

Description

Lethbridge is at the western edge of prairie rattlesnake range in Canada. Continued expansion of the city has resulted in a substantial loss of suitable rattlesnake habitat and special efforts are necessary to maintain a sustainable population of rattlesnakes in Lethbridge. Recovery efforts focused on establishing a population of rattlesnakes in a newly-constructed artificial hibernaculum in Cottonwood Park. This report summarizes conservation efforts initiated in 2001 and continued through 2003.

Tags

Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) hibernacula : monitoring history in Alberta 1987-2002

Description

This report summarizes the results of surveys at rattlesnake hibernacula in Alberta conducted between 2000 and 2002, as well as data from the literature and from historical numbers of snakes at... More ≫

Description

This report summarizes the results of surveys at rattlesnake hibernacula in Alberta conducted between 2000 and 2002, as well as data from the literature and from historical numbers of snakes at hibernacula as captured in the Alberta Biodiversity Species Observation Database. Observations of snakes at hibernacula made by other observers during the formal study are also included. A compilation of historical and recent observations of snakes at hibernacula provides a means of estimating changes in snake numbers at these sites. Until more intensive methods for estimating the size of the prairie rattlesnake population in Alberta are used (e.g., mark-recapture techniques), these observations and surveys can be used to inform future status assessments of this species.

Tags

Lethbridge prairie rattlesnake conservation project : 2002/2003 progress report

Description

Lethbridge is at the western edge of prairie rattlesnake range in Canada. Continued expansion of the city has resulted in a substantial loss of suitable rattlesnake habitat and special efforts are... More ≫

Description

Lethbridge is at the western edge of prairie rattlesnake range in Canada. Continued expansion of the city has resulted in a substantial loss of suitable rattlesnake habitat and special efforts are necessary to maintain a sustainable population of rattlesnakes in Lethbridge. Recovery efforts focused on establishing a population of rattlesnakes in a newly-constructed artificial hibernaculum in Cottonwood Park. This report provides a summary of progress and results based on recommendations from 2001, and outlines current and future management and recovery strategies aimed at maintaining the Lethbridge prairie rattlesnake population.

Tags

Management and recovery strategies for the Lethbridge population of the prairie rattlesnake

Description

The coulees of southwest Lethbridge are home to a small population of prairie rattlesnakes. High rates of mortality from road kills, deliberate human persecution, and a rapid loss of habitat from... More ≫

Description

The coulees of southwest Lethbridge are home to a small population of prairie rattlesnakes. High rates of mortality from road kills, deliberate human persecution, and a rapid loss of habitat from subdivision and recreational development make the future of Lethbridge rattlesnakes uncertain. In 2000, a committee was formed to develop a management plan. This report integrates previous work done, includes pertinent actions from the draft management plan developed in 2000 and summarizes and discusses present and future recovery efforts.

Tags

Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis viridis) monitoring in Alberta - preliminary investigations (2000)

Description

In the fall of 2000, a project was undertaken to collect and review information on the over-wintering sites used by the prairie rattlesnake in Alberta. These sites, known as hibernacula, and the... More ≫

Description

In the fall of 2000, a project was undertaken to collect and review information on the over-wintering sites used by the prairie rattlesnake in Alberta. These sites, known as hibernacula, and the surrounding suitable habitat, are undoubtedly important limiting factors affecting rattlesnake distribution within Alberta. This report summarises the preliminary work completed to begin updating historical information on the prairie rattlesnake, and includes suggestions for a long-term monitoring and population analysis program. Information gained from this project is intended to help in the protection and survival of this species in Alberta.

Tags

Utilization of air photo interpretation to locate prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis viridis) hibernacula in the South Saskatchewan River Valley

Description

Current anecdotal evidence suggests that the distribution and abundance of the prairie rattlesnake is declining. Due to a lack of standardized information, a means of conducting a landscape level... More ≫

Description

Current anecdotal evidence suggests that the distribution and abundance of the prairie rattlesnake is declining. Due to a lack of standardized information, a means of conducting a landscape level hibernacula inventory and population assessment of rattlesnakes in Alberta must be developed. Previous work undertaken by Alberta Environment was done to attempt to facilitate this process. This method used air photo interpretation and the ecological land classification system to classify a portion of the South Saskatchewan River valley for the likelihood of containing snake hibernacula. This method was evaluated for effectiveness by conducting ground searches throughout the identified study area and correlating actual locations of confirmed hibernacula to predicted locations. A total of eight hibernacula were confirmed.

Tags

Status of the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis viridis) in Alberta

Description

This wildlife status report looks at the prairie rattlesnake, a subspecies of the western rattlesnake and listed as at risk in Alberta. This report reviews current information on the prairie... More ≫

Description

This wildlife status report looks at the prairie rattlesnake, a subspecies of the western rattlesnake and listed as at risk in Alberta. This report reviews current information on the prairie rattlesnake as a first step in updating its status in the province. It is part of the Alberta Wildlife Status Report series, which provides comprehensive summaries of selected wildlife species intended to be useful to those managing populations of species and their habitats, and to help identify species that may be formally designated as endangered or threatened.

Tags