SANDUSKY, OH -- Researchers are using radio tracking devices to learn more about the habits and habitat of the federally and state protected Lake Erie water snake, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Previous studies indicate that the population of the Lake Erie water snake, which is only found near the western Lake Erie islands, has decreased dramatically over the past 100 years.
The Lake Erie water snake was listed as federally threatened in 1999 and state endangered in 2000.
Surveys conducted from 1996 through 1998 suggest that only 2000 adult Lake Erie water snakes existed at that time in Ohio waters.
A subspecies of the northern water snake, the Lake Erie water snake is similar to its relative except that a pattern of crossbands is pale or completely lacking. The general coloration is gray or brownish. It may grow to a length of 42-inches. In the current study, researchers surgically implanted miniature radio transmitters into adult water snakes and re-released the snakes in their shoreline habitat. Each transmitter produces a signal with a unique frequency that can be detected with a receiver from a distance of more than 500 yards.
The two-year project is funded by the ODNR Division of Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"With the implanted transmitters, we were able to track the movements of 20 snakes on Kelleys Island last summer, which yielded some very useful information," said Dr. Richard King, assistant professor at Northern Illinois University and leader of the research project. "We learned that the snakes travel long distances from April through October, seem attracted to some human-made structures such as rock-filled crib docks for daytime shelter during foraging, and sometimes choose hibernation sites that are far inland from their regular shoreline activity sites."
This year, 37 additional snakes on Kelleys Island and the Bass Islands received transmitters. These snakes will be tracked through June 2002 or beyond. Besides providing information on movement patterns, the tracking will help researchers update population estimates of the snake.
Historically, the reptiles have been the subjects of active eradication campaigns by individuals who feared the snakes. Public awareness campaigns have helped inform island landowners of the snakes' endangered status.