Behavioral and life history responses of eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) to human disturbance

Parks and nature reserves protect important natural habitats but also provi de public opportunities for outdoor recreational activities that may have u nintended negative effects on wildlife. We examined the response of eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) to inadvertent dis turbance by humans in Kill-bear Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Radio tel emetry of 25 adult snakes over two active seasons revealed that, as disturb ance increased, gravid females were less visible to observers, but the visi bility of non-gravid females and males did not change. Mean distance moved per day decreased and mean time between moves greater than 10 m increased i n gravid females, non-gravid females and males with increasing exposure to human disturbance. However, mark-recapture data revealed no differences in the condition or growth rates of snakes, or in the litter size of gravid fe males, between individuals captured in disturbed and undisturbed study area s. While it is possible that the behavioral responses we observed are not s ufficient to have life history consequences, more detailed information on t he exposure of individual snakes to human activity is necessary before the conclusion that disturbance is not detrimental to snakes can be accepted. S imilarly, other potential negative effects of human disturbance not investi gated here remain to be explored.