The Snake Tracker

Javan Bauder, a recent alumnus of the College of Natural Resources who studied rattlesnakes, conducted one of Idaho’s first studies of rattlesnake movement and habitation selection in a designated wilderness, as well as one of the first studies of prairie rattlesnakes in Idaho.

THE PROJECT
Javan’s senior research project, "Movement and habitat selection of Prairie Rattlesnakes in the Big Creek drainage of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, Idaho," was conducted at Taylor Wilderness Research Station. He used radio telemetry and mark-recapture to study the movement and habitat selection of these snakes and also how their behaviors are influenced by landscape characteristics, such as rivers, mountains and ridges. Much of the funding for his study was provided by the DeVlieg Foundation.

THE IMPACT
By providing an understanding of how rattlesnakes utilize remote, wilderness areas largely undisturbed by humans, Javan’s study will help scientists understand:

• How increasing human development can influence rattlesnake ecology
• If and how natural landscape features, like mountainous topography, restrict rattlesnake movement can help better predict how human development might further restrict their movements.
• How animals acquire important resources, like food and mates, in a potentially restrictive landscape

Data from this study will aid in the future management of this species within the state of Idaho.

THE VISION
Javan has expanded his study into a master’s degree project and is studying at Idaho State University with additional support from the DeVlieg Foundation. He has included a prey availability component to his research to determine if rattlesnakes select areas with high prey abundance. Following the completion of his master’s degree, Javan will work as a research scientist with the indigo snake conservation organization Project Orianne Ltd., studying the thermal ecology of indigo snakes. Javan plans to continue to pursue his interest in wildlife research by earning a doctorate and seeking a career as a research scientist with a government agency or research university. He hopes to study the spatial ecology of reptiles and amphibians to improve conservation and management planning.