Strike-induced chemosensory searching (SICS) in northern Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis oreganus, Holbrook, 1840) rescued from substandard husbandry conditions. II. Complete recovery of function after two years

Six northern Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis oreganus) rescued from substandard husbandry conditions were shipped from Woodland Park Zoological Gardens to the University of Colorado in December 1994. The snakes accepte d prey and rapidly gained weight, but their searching behavior after predat ory strikes was seriously depressed. We administered repeated tests of stri ke-induced chemosensory searching (SICS) finding that the snakes improved s teadily with each succeeding test, until performance eventually reached the level characteristic of this taxon. Although the snakes reached normal bod y weight within 4 months of exposure to proper husbandry conditions, normal SICS was not seen until 2 years had elapsed. Release of these snakes into natural habitat prior to recovery of SICS may well have resulted in the dem ise of the animals, suggesting that rehabilitation efforts must consider re covery of essential behavior patterns that can take far longer than recover y of body weight. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.