Timber Rattlesnake summary

Introduction

• The study explores intraspecific chemical communication in Crotalus horridus (Timber Rattlesnake), focusing on whether neonates (young snakes) follow their mother’s scent to find suitable hibernation sites.

• Parental care in snakes, particularly viperids, includes behaviors like thermoregulation during gestation and post-birth attendance.

• Since neonates lack prior knowledge of hibernacula (hibernation sites), they may follow conspecific scent trails for survival. Prior studies suggest neonates can recognize kin and potentially follow maternal scent trails, but field data is limited.

• The objective of this study was to determine if neonate Timber Rattlesnakes in North Central Missouri use maternal scent trails to locate overwintering dens.

Materials and Methods

• The study was conducted from 2008–2010 at two Missouri sites.

• Using radiotelemetry, researchers tracked 7 adult gravid (pregnant) female Timber Rattlesnakes and 22 neonates. Pregnant females were captured and monitored until parturition (giving birth).

• A subset of neonates from each litter was fitted with transmitters and released alongside their mother. Researchers tracked both mothers and neonates to determine movement patterns. Behavioral observations and den locations were recorded.

Results

• Out of 22 neonates, only 6 retained their transmitters long enough to be tracked to hibernacula.

  • Five followed their mother to the same den, while one entered the den of a different conspecific female.

• Neonates initially remained near the birth site before gradually moving in the same direction as their mother. Their paths were within 20 meters of their mother’s path but did not exactly match.

• Many neonates clustered together, potentially for predator avoidance or thermoregulation.

Discussion

• The findings support the hypothesis that neonate Timber Rattlesnakes follow maternal scent trails or, at minimum, those of conspecifics to locate suitable dens.

• This behavior aligns with previous studies on kin recognition and conspecific trailing in rattlesnakes.

• While not all neonates followed their mothers, the results suggest scent trailing may be a weak but present behavioral trait.

• The study contributes to understanding post-dispersal parental care in rattlesnakes and suggests further research on whether mothers intentionally leave scent trails for their offspring.