Department of Earth and Biological Sciences
Faculty: William K. Hayes
Laboratory of behavioral ecology and conservation
Alex Figueroa (MS, in progress)
"Behavioral ecology of neonate Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes (Crotalus helleri) in Southern California"
Contact
Department of Earth and Biological Sciences
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA 92350 USA
Phone: (909) 558-4300 ext. 48909 or (909) 558-4530
Fax: (909) 558-0259
Email: afigueroa@yahoo.com
Where ARE you? Alex probes the brush in search of one of his telemetered subjects, a neonate Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus helleri). Without an externally-glued transmitter on the snake, he would have no chance of finding it. Photograph: William K. Hayes.
Alex has undertaken a difficult project using radiotelemetry to study the behavioral ecology of neonate rattlesnakes. The small size of his subjects requires use of a very small transmitter with a short battery life. To track individuals over the long term, he elected to glue the transmitter externally rather than rely on the more conventional approach of surgical implantation. The external application allows him to repeatedly replace the transmitter unit (with a new one having fresh batteries) without the need for multiple surgeries.
Curiously, the neonates frequently seek arboreal positions in shrubs 10-90 cm above ground. Lizards of all age classes also abound in this microhabitat. Adults, in contrast, are rarely seen in arboreal situations. No doubt, we'll learn more interesting tidbits as his study progresses.
To learn more details about his study, go to Research on Free-ranging Southern California Rattlesnakes (with photographs).