Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello Everyone!!

I am in the infancy of my thesis research here at Marshall University. I will be doing my research on Eastern Hognose snakes, Heterodon platyrhinos, and was wondering if you all could give me some pointers on finding these animals. While this snake is common in many regions of its range, here in West Virginia it has experienced a drastic decline. I plan on using a multitude of capture techniques (ie. hand capture, drift fence arrays, cover objects) during the duration of my study. If any of you have experience with any of these methods and know of one that is more productive than the rest please inform me! Any specific habitat parameters besides the classic parameters (sandy substrate, old fields, etc.) will also be highly appreciated. Basically tell me what know about these animals. I am currently writing my grant proposal for the project, so I need to know how many traps and any kind of special capture equipment I might need.

Thanks for any info!

Zac

I can't personally help you, I have yet to see one in the wild here in SE VA. In case you haven't already, you should contact Curtis Eckerman, who did a lot of work with Westerns for his PhD. Also, if you haven't signed up for the P.A.R.C. listserv, you shoud do that as well. Some of the hardcore herpetologists there can help you.
click here for the link...

-----
...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes

Zac,

Heres another link to to website thats devoted to all species of hognoses. I have a 2003 female western hognose from www.albinohognose.com and I am getting a male 2003 western hognose soon so I can breed them when they get old enough.

www.hognose.com

hope this helps,

john