Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I've noticed for years an abundance of dead Brownsnakes and Red-bellied Snakes on the roads every fall and based on what I know about other snakes can pretty confidently say that they are moving across roads to get back and forth between their winter hibernacula and their summer foraging habitat. I would, however, like to read up on the matter but can't seem to find any papers on it. It seems like all the snake migration papers have to do with Ratsnakes and Rattlesnakes. Are any of you aware of papers dealing with the spring/fall migration of small terrestrial snakes?

thanks

I don't know of the specific papers offhand, but I know the topic of brown snake migration and hibernation is covered (with papers cited) in Ernst and Ernst, Snakes of the United States and Canada. It's a great book for just this kind of question, and I keep it along with my Ernst and Barbour for the turtles and my Petranka for the salamanders for when I'm wondering about natural history. I'd love to have something as good on anurans.

Billy

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Phillyherping

Thanks. While I don't personally own I do have access to the books you mentioned and will be sure to check out the bit on Brownsnakes this week. There is a recently published book on the anurans of the United States and Canada that is very comparable to Petranka's book on caudates. I can't remember off the top of my head the author or exact title so I'll track it down on monday and get back to you.

Thanks!

The anuran book I was thinking of was Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species, edited by Michael Lanoo.

You may already have it -- it covers each species in pretty good detail and is comparable to the other books you listed. The only thing it lacks is identification but that can be made up for with the peterson's guide you have on your bookshelf.