Please pray for the Rattlesnakes

[AEthelred]

There are massive wild fires in New England right now and especially in the Town of Great Barrington which has one of the very few yet robust Timber rattlesnake populations in the region. I fear snakes may die in the wild fires so please pray for these vulnerable snakes.

[stlouisdude]

I think the fires could benefit them. The tree canopy being too thick is probably not good for them. I would imagine in the years following fire, the rodent populations would reach higher proportions. If they duck down into crevices, the fires may not directly harm them. Then again this is all my hypothesis based largely on my imagination.

[AEthelred]

I think the fires could benefit them. The tree canopy being too thick is probably not good for them. I would imagine in the years following fire, the rodent populations would reach higher proportions. If they duck down into crevices, the fires may not directly harm them. Then again this is all my hypothesis based largely on my imagination.

I do hope you are right ,the Butternut fire has burned over 1100 acres of mountain forest.Thank you for sharing that information ,I feel better

[RCampbell]

Fires have been happening since before humans meandered into horridus habitat...humans are a far greater threat to horridus survival than fire.
ST. Louis is right that hibernacula and den sites will benefit from some clearing, and forests as a whole bounce back fast.

[AEthelred]

Fires have been happening since before humans meandered into horridus habitat...humans are a far greater threat to horridus survival than fire.
ST. Louis is right that hibernacula and den sites will benefit from some clearing, and forests as a whole bounce back fast.

The difference here in Massachusetts is that there are only an estimated 300-500 specimans state wide and most situated in the southwestern region near the Connecticut border.If 50 snakes were lost that would be devasting ,50 snakes in the south or southwestern US or even parts of the MIdwest is a drop in the bucket there and yes wild fires are overall great for the environment.Controled burnings and small wild burnings are good for wildlife and vegitation and arboreal life.
The good news is that it is raining finally today ,so by tomorrow morning the fires should all be out and hopefully no lost rattlesnakes snakes.Hopefully the months long drought here is gone and the fires will be good for Botanical renewal for sure

[RCampbell]

I am intimately aware of population guesstimates in the area, and no doubt if this fire was happening during peak activity times rather than hibernation periods there might be serious casualties...

In the end I doubt seriously if there will be much loss at all for slumbering serpents.

[AEthelred]

I am intimately aware of population guesstimates in the area, and no doubt if this fire was happening during peak activity times rather than hibernation periods there might be serious casualties...

In the end I doubt seriously if there will be much loss at all for slumbering serpents.

That is good news ,I know they have been dened up since mid october or so but I still wondered if the dens might get hot or smoky

[stlouisdude]

Someone posted pics here a few years ago of a fire near a railroad bed and said they saw timbers re-emerge shortly after the fire. I'm far from an expert on this, but that gave me the idea that they might survive fires quite well in crevices.

[AEthelred]

Someone posted pics here a few years ago of a fire near a railroad bed and said they saw timbers re-emerge shortly after the fire. I'm far from an expert on this, but that gave me the idea that they might survive fires quite well in crevices.

The "Butternut fire" as they called was in very rocky hilly terain ,they had a good and likely were all dened up before the fires in rocky crevasse's and now it looks like after two days of rain the fire is out.So far good news

[nhherp]

I am in agreement. This fire had great timing and will not doubt be a good thing for the horridus population.

Canopy coverage is detrimental to rookerys where gravid females stay to bask and birth near dens.

Fire suppression in eastern habitats due to homes and communities is excessive. Ut goes back to an earlier discussion of habitat loss, and how people living in critical habitat impedes natural ecosystems and functions.

The only drawback is fire will make the snakes more easily seen amd disturbed by humans in the spring and fall next year.

Left alone the fire was more the answer to prayer for rattlesnake population longevity.

-N-

[AEthelred]

I am in agreement. This fire had great timing and will not doubt be a good thing for the horridus population.

Canopy coverage is detrimental to rookerys where gravid females stay to bask and birth near dens.

Fire suppression in eastern habitats due to homes and communities is excessive. Ut goes back to an earlier discussion of habitat loss, and how people living in critical habitat impedes natural ecosystems and functions.

The only drawback is fire will make the snakes more easily seen amd disturbed by humans in the spring and fall next year.

Left alone the fire was more the answer to prayer for rattlesnake population longevity.

-N-

Thank you New Hampshire herper ,I fully agree that occassional fires and controled burns are a environmental good.I read yesterday the FFD terminated command on the Butternut fire ,its fully out .I do hope this helps this fragile New England population