Herps in the News: "Disappearing Diamondbacks Relocated to Longleaf Woods

I read an article today by Bo Petereson with the Post and Courier about the loss of habitat and potential loss of the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, one of the most venemous snakes in the US and one of the largest snakes in the world, here in South Carolina. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is main part of the ecosystem in South Carolina, being prey for many species of birds and a predator for many species of mammals and sometimes other reptiles. The main area of concern here in the lowcountry is a tract along the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto River that runs between Charleston and Beaufort. Devastating logging, along with substituting poorer quality pine habitats has dramatically affected the Eastern Diamondbacks numbers. Foresters are now working to improve the habitats in these areas. The article discussed a study that was done by a woman named Waldron back in 2006 through the University of Georgia and in cooperation with SCDNR. She found that once relocated to a new area  a Diamondback rattlesnake would sometimes travel 4 miles to find a new area similar to their old one. So if SCDNR was to start moving this species of concern, it would need to be one larger than the one it was removed from. Relocating them would help avoid being run over, killed for meet or their skin, and just indiscriminate killing. For more detailed reading here is the link to original article: http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120103/PC1602/301039928