Southern Research Station

Title: Use of trees by the Texas ratsnake (Elaphe obsoleta) in Eastern Texas

Author: Pierce, Josh B.; Fleet, Robert R.; McBrayer, Lance; Rudolph, D. Craig

Date: 2008

Source: Southeastern Naturalist, Vol. 7(2): 359-366

Description: We present information on the use of trees by Elaphe obsoleta (Texas Ratsnake) in a mesic pine-hardwood forest in eastern Texas. Using radiotelemetry, seven snakes (3 females, 4 males) were relocated a total of 363 times from April 2004 to May 2005, resulting in 201 unique locations. Snakes selected trees containing cavities and used hardwoods and snags for a combined 95% of arboreal locations. Texas Ratsnake arboreal activity peaked during July and August, well after the peak of avian breeding activity, suggesting arboreal activity involves factors other than avian predation.

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Citation

Pierce, Josh B.; Fleet, Robert R.; McBrayer, Lance; Rudolph, D. Craig  2008.  Use of trees by the Texas ratsnake (Elaphe obsoleta) in Eastern Texas.   Southeastern Naturalist, Vol. 7(2): 359-366