Project Area
The eastern massasauga rattlesnake (EMR) depends on large wetlands and floodplain habitats along rivers and streams, where they primarily occupy open wet meadows, and adjacent upland prairies, forests, and fields. The Wisconsin DNR manages EMR on 8 extant sites across the state that contain floodplain forest, open wet meadow, poor fen, wet prairie, and sedge meadow habitats. The exact locations of these remnant populations is kept secret to protect the snakes. The accompanying map shows counties in Wisconsin with a documented occurrence of EMR.
Management Goals
The overall goal of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources management is to preserve the species and maintain a viable population at each site. Managers considered specific goals for each site, which are too detailed for this summary. Management goals across the sites include maintaining open wetland habitat adjacent to upland prairie and forest, maintaining more stable water levels during overwintering periods and spring emergence, and minimizing roadkill. Specific objectives included mowing woody brush during wintertime, conducting dormant-season prescribed fires to maintain open habitats, and mowing road right-of-way areas to <6” height to deter snakes from crossing.
Climate Change Impacts
Adaptation Actions
Project participants used the Adaptation Workbook and the draft Wildlife Adaptation Menu to develop several adaptation actions for this project, including:
10.12. Protect current safe havens for climate vulnerable populations to ensure those populations are available for future conservation efforts
10.13. Protect sufficient habitat for viable populations to be self-sustaining and of sufficient quality to create surplus dispersers
7.5. Implement nonlethal behavioral control methods (barriers and deterrents)
4.2. Detect and remove non-native invasive species