RATTLESNAKES ON GOLF COURSES: HABITAT REQUIREMENTS AND HUMAN INTERACTIONS
Michael E. Dorcas
Davidson College
The objective of this project is to develop and use knowledge of the ecological
requirements of venomous snakes on golf courses to allow for better habitat
management and to foster appreciation of venomous snakes as natural components
of golf course ecosystems.
I will conduct this study on The Ocean Course, a golf course on Kiawah Island,
located south of Charleston, SC. The study will focus on two species of rattlesnakes,
the canebrake rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake
(Crotalus adamanteus). I will use radiotelemetry to determine the activity patterns,
home ranges, and habitat use of rattlesnakes on The Ocean Course. Radiotransmitters
will be surgically implanted and snakes will be tracked 3-4 days per week.
In addition to articles in peer-reviewed journals such as Conservation Biology
and Herpetologica, I will generate a technical manual, available as an Adobe
Acrobat file on the World Wide Web, that can be used by golf course superintendents
to manage habitat on golf courses for rattlesnakes while simultaneously minimizing
hazardous golfer-snake interactions. To help foster an appreciation of rattlesnakes
by the general public, including golfers, a World Wide Web Site and a brochure
will be produced to publicize the project.
I am requesting funds for Geographical Information System (GIS) software (ArcView
3.1 with Spatial Analyst Module, ESRI) and a Global Positioning System (GPS;
GeoExplorer, Trimble) to use in the project described above. The GPS will allow
me to record accurately the locations of snakes and geographical features. The
GIS will allow analysis and mapping by overlaying snake locations and geographical
features. I have submitted a grant to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
to cover all costs of the project, except for the GIS and GPS. The GPS costs
more than allowed ($3385); I will cover the extra costs with other funds.
In addition to the project described above, or in the event the project is not
funded by NFWF, the GIS and GPS will be used in teaching and research projects
involving students. Knowledge of GIS software and GPS technology is essential
for any student in ecology today. Having GIS capabilities will increase the
capabilities of Davidson College to provide training in state-of-the-art technology
and will increase the marketability of graduating students.
I am currently a co-PI on a radiotelemetry project of eastern diamondback rattlesnakes
at the Webb Wildlife Center in Hampton Co., SC. and have already begun a pilot
project working with Ocean Course personnel. I have conducted or served as an
advisor on numerous other snake radio telemetry projects in the past.
Recent Related Publications:
Dorcas, M.E. and C.R. Peterson. 1998. Daily body temperature variation in free-ranging
rubber boas. Herpetologica 54:88-103.
Dorcas, M.E., C.R. Peterson, and M.E.T. Flint. 1997. The thermal biology of
digestion in rubber boas (Charina bottae): behavior, physiology, and environmental
constraints. Physiological Zoology 70:292-300.
Dorcas, M.E. and C.R. Peterson. 1997. Head-body temperature differences in free-ranging
rubber boas. Journal of Herpetology 31:87-93.