Minimizing Take of Threatened Rattlesnakes and Optimizing Project Review in SE Nebraska

The western massasauga (Sistrurus tergeminus) and the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) are protected under Nebraska Statute 37-801-811 and listed as threatened species. These species occur in the right-of-way (ROW) along several roads in Jefferson, Gage, Pawnee, and Richardson Counties which necessitates the need for added Environmental Review (ER) from Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) staff and onsite surveys prior and during maintenance and construction to roadways. This project sought to minimize ER time, staff time, and increase the knowledge of these species in southeast Nebraska by: Identifying precise locations of western massasauga brumation sites; Mapping travel corridors from brumation site to active (summer) sites and explore how they relate to NDOT ROW; Developing standardized survey/search protocols; Documenting materials used by snakes as basking and/or refuge locations; Providing recommendations to avoid or minimize impacts to protected snakes for future NDOT maintenance and construction practices. Only western massasaugas were captured during this project and were tagged with GPS and radio transmitters to elucidate their movements through NDOT ROW. Thirteen massasaugas were captured and tagged with transmitters; one individual was never recovered so we only have data for 12 snakes. Overall, the massasaugas stayed very close to their capture location and only moved into surrounding fields occasionally and we rarely noted them on NDOT materials (besides the road itself). To limit take of these species, NDOT should clear vegetation the winter before work begins, ensure water connectivity and wetlands are maintained, ensure NDOT and contractor vehicles/equipment only drive and park on the staging area – which needs to be included in the pre-construction surveys, erect signage warning drivers of snakes on the road and continue to work closely with NGPC biologists.