Snake ecology of the Red Hills region of south Georgia and north Florida

Longleaf pine forests of the southeast were once one of the most extensive ecosystems in North America. Snakes are one component of this system for which we have a limited understanding. I used radio telemetry and trapping on 2 sites to better understand community ecology, habitat use, and classify habitat requirements. I radio-tagged 2 sympatric species, corn and gray rat snakes. Partitioning of habitat did exist, corn snakes prefer upland habitat and gray rat snakes prefer bottomland habitat. I documented captures of 1,802 individuals representing 19 different species from 2003-2005. Intact upland sites are necessary to many snakes including some threatened species. Intact upland is best managed with prescribed burning and is necessary to provide open pine forest snake species with proper habitat.