Snake capture and transmitter implantation
We found snakes for this study by scouting the study area in the winter for possible hibernacula and suitable habitat. In March of 2016, eight snakes (five males and three non-gravid females) were captured on top of or near three separate hibernacula. These individuals were transported to Southeastern Louisiana University where Wildlife Materials International temperature-sensitive transmitters were implanted using published methods approved by the Southeastern University IACUC (Reinert and Cundall, 1982, IACUC Protocol #0035). The first three anterior rattles were painted a unique color of finger nail polish to facilitate visual identification. After surgery, each snake was given approximately one week to recover in a secure enclosure with a hide box and water bowl. Upon recovery, individuals were released at their original capture sites. While tracking already implanted snakes, we captured an additional male snake and a non-gravid female snake in May of 2016. These snakes were collected, implanted with transmitters, and released using the methods described above. On June 7, 2016, one of the female snakes died for unknown reasons. The transmitter from this female was implanted into a male found within the study area and subsequently released. Observations of this individual began on June 15, 2016, and ended on June 4, 2017. In addition, the transmitter signal of one of the male snakes in the study was lost on December 8, 2016. This individual was not recovered.
Data collected from the deceased female were not used in any statistical analyses. Data collected from the lost male were not used for the statistical analyses of annual movements, but data collected during monthly intervals with full data sets were used in the statistical analyses of seasonal behavior. At the end of the study, all snakes with working transmitters were recaptured, brought back to Southeastern Louisiana University for transmitter removal and released at capture sites.