A rattlesnake finds refuge

Abstract

A rattlesnake finds refuge I n early September 2017, Hurricane Irma made landfall in southwest Florida, bringing with it strong winds and heavy flooding. At that time, a radio-telemetry project was being conducted on eastern diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus) at the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida. After the storm, this large radio-tagged female was found perched about two meters off the ground, atop a fallen cypress tree and other debris, surrounded by flood waters.Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are typically sedentary predators that maintain relatively small home ranges (approximately 30-60 hectares) and will remain stationary for several days at a time. However, individuals in this study traveled long distances in the days to weeks after Irma made landfall. This may have been due to storm surge inundation limiting available space to rest, thermoregulate, and protect themselves. These snakes are also typically solitary; however, we encountered multiple rattlesnakes congregating on the small islands created by the hurricane.