Spatial ecology and survivorship of resident and translocated hognose snakes (Heterodon platirhinos)

Movements and survivorship of eight resident and eight translocated adult Heterodon platirhinoswere monitored daily with radiotelemetry during the activity seasons (15 April-15 October) of 1992 to 1994 in upland open forest habitat. Hognose snakes were diurnally active and used a variety of open and edge microhabitats with grassy or leafy groundcover. Resident snakes were active on about 57% of days but some were inactive for extended periods (up to 68 d) in midsummer. Residents confined their movements within large ((x) over bar = 50 ha), well-defined home ranges which, for individuals, remained similar in size and location from year-to-year. Movements of both resident and translocated snakes averaged approximately 120 m/d, but movements of residents were confined to home ranges whereas those of translocated snakes were not so confined. Compared to residents, translocated snakes exhibited a 6X greater variance in distance of daily movements and made most of the long (>400 mid), unidirectional movements. Resident snakes survived, on average, more than 3x longer ((x) over bar = 122 d) than translocated snakes ((x) over bar = 36 d) within the 184 d annual activity season.