- Chuck Smith
- Apr 30
- 1 min read
Rattlesnake relocation in the real world: a glass half-full
Hughes, Bryan D.
Rattlesnake Solutions LLC
Cave Creek, Arizona USA
Relocation of rattlesnakes is a controversial yet increasingly popular method of human-snake conflict mitigation. Few realistic alternatives are available to solve immediate short-term conflict. The situation in a quickly expanding Arizona metro area, with the additional complexity of private land use, habitat access, licensing and legal challenges, and changing social conventions, is not fully represented by the current state of research. The examination of snake relocation studies and comparison to real-world conflict situations reveal gaps in current methods and areas of improvement for future development of relocation as a practice. Examples of more advanced release-site selection criteria, consideration of seasonal and species-specific behavior, microhabitat use and condition emulation, conflict source reduction, preventative action, and improved education techniques are discussed as under-represented opportunities for further research to advance post-action survival and reduce future conflict. This discussion will emphasize that the practice of snake relocation remains an evolving method, with numerous paths of improvement yet to be explored. As goodwill towards snakes may be improving within American culture, guidance from authoritative sources on how to proceed is needed.