Thamnophis elegans declines?

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Whitman
Posts: 7
Joined: August 18th, 2019, 6:35 am

Thamnophis elegans declines?

Post by Whitman »

We (wife and I) have been conducting CPUE surveys along standardized routes (driving) in higher-elevation areas of Lemhi County (east-central Idaho) since 2008. Basically only 4 species of snakes. While C. bottae, C. constrictor mormon, and C. viridis encounters have remained +/- stable, T. elegans has gone down about 92% since 2011. I'm certainly not claiming that the sky is falling, but it is interesting. Can find nothing in the literature about wide population swings. 2019 data not yet analyzed to see if this trend continues. This is based on about 884 T. elegans observations collectively.

Any input or suggestions?

Many thanks,

Jack
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