Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is the market like for Crotalids caught in the wild? I rescue a number of eastern diamondbacks of all sizes (some fairly large) each year, and I always relocate them. But I've been reading that relocating rattlers could prove deadly for the snakes. Is there a demand for WC rattlers among breeders and collectors?

RP

hmmmmm...not likely. most are captive bred these days.
relocation can be successful if the animal is not moved more than a mile. The Sonoran Desert Museum has been studying this for some time with snakes found on the grounds. You might email Craig Ivanyi and inquire.

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Cheers
Lateralis
"I would rather be precisely wrong than approximately right"
Marion "Doc" Ford

This is indeed a bit of a problem and one that we have ongoing experience with. We do work with a couple of folks who deal with rescuing "nuisance" rattlesnakes and due to development, are not able to find suitable habitat w/in a short distance from the capture site. There is ongoing research on these animals' homing instincts in addition to their ability to adapt to areas well outside of their normal range. In the meantime, if you have rattlers that need placement, drop me an email and I can recommend some reputable facilities who will assist you.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center

>>What is the market like for Crotalids caught in the wild? I rescue a number of eastern diamondbacks of all sizes (some fairly large) each year, and I always relocate them. But I've been reading that relocating rattlers could prove deadly for the snakes. Is there a demand for WC rattlers among breeders and collectors?
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>>RP
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

I've got a couple of short questions for you, but I'm having trouble contacting you through the forum email option. Could you send me an email at rnhpreston@charter.net? I'll reply with my questions.

RP

Just to add my 0.02

WC EDB's don't do so well in captivity, especially over 3 ft in length. Best to relocate them the best you can at least they have a 50/50 chance.

Al
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Confidence is what you feel before you comprehend the situation.

n/p
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Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
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Conservation through Education

I do snake removal/relocation here in socal and I am very careful not to move the snakes more than a mile or so away UNLESS it is still within a populated area. Try a couple of the venom research labs around the country, I have in the past supplied some Mojaves and Helleri to some.

Where are these labs located?

RP

I"m unsure if this would suite your purpose, but rattler dens have been relocated up here in Alberta, specifically in Lethbridge. (it was moved out of town). So far, it's been successfull. I think that if they wake up in the spring from a new den, they will call this their home. However this sometimes means confining them to the new densite until they use it to hibernate in. Again, I'm also uncertain how this would work in the always tropical FLA.

Ian