Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont & New York: Biology, History, and the Fate of an Endangered SpeciesToday, small populations of timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) quietly inhabit parts of Rutland County in Vermont, and Warren, Washington, and Essex counties in New York. Because the species is endangered, the exact locations of established dens in this area are a closely guarded secret. Insider, naturalist, and author Jon Furman has devoted years to the study of the snake's past and present range, its habitat and biology, the period in Vermont and upstate New York history during which timber rattlesnakes were ruthlessly hunted for a bounty, and the outlook for this severely threatened species in both states. Soundly anchored in the latest scientific data, Furman proffers an accessible and engaging account of contemporary fieldwork and first-person interviews with herpetologists and old-time bounty hunters. For expert and lay readers interested in snakes and reptiles, northeastern fauna and natural history, conservation, and endangered species, this volume clearly explicates the timber rattlesnake's biology as well as what happens and what to do when one bites. It also explores the troubling decline of the northeastern population caused by bounty hunting between the 1890s and the early 1970s, other past and present threats to the species' survival, and what measures are being taken-and additional ones that must be taken-to ensure that timber rattlesnakes survive and thrive in the northeast. Historical and contemporary illustrations bring these reptiles and their world to life. Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont & New York shines a new light on a maligned and misunderstood species. |
Contents
Chapter 1 Getting to Know Them | 1 |
Chapter 2 How Big Are They? | 38 |
Chapter 3 When a Timber Rattler Bites | 44 |
Chapter 4 Survivors | 65 |
Chapter 5 The Principal Encroachments | 70 |
Illustrations | 80 |
Chapter 6 Bounty Hunting | 84 |
Lester and Carol Reed | 104 |
Chapter 10 Rays of Hope | 141 |
Conclusion | 163 |
Resolutions 77 1971 and 107 1972 of the Warren County New York Board of Supervisors | 169 |
Resolution 184 1971 of the Washington County New York Board of Supervisors | 171 |
Resolution 73 1972 of the Washington County New York Board of Supervisors | 172 |
Notes | 175 |
| 195 | |
| 199 | |
Other editions - View all
Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont & New York: Biology, History, and the Fate of ... Jon Furman No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
Adirondacks allergic antivenom Art Moore basking knolls ber rattlesnake Bill Galick bitten Board of Supervisors bounty claims bounty hunting bounty on timber bounty payment records captured career Carol Reed Conservation County Board county’s CroFab Crotalus horridus DesMeules developed di=erent dollars per snake e-mail to author e=ect early Essex County fact farm fasciotomy feet Fritsch herpetologist hibernation hunting counties inches interview with author Keyler killed Klauber knew known Lester and Carol located mating never northeast northeastern New York o=ered pitviper protect Ramapo Energy Randy Stechert range rattle rattlesnake bounty hunter rattlesnake envenomation rattlesnake hunting rattlesnake oil Reed Reptiles Resolution Rutland County shed skin snake oil snakebite Sour Mountain southern New York state’s survive telephone interview There’s timber rattlers timber rattlesnake bite timber rattlesnake bounty timber rattlesnake habitat timber rattlesnake population town Venom Poisoning Vermont W. H. Martin W. S. Brown Warren County Washington County yellow morph York’s