Page 26 - 2003 DT 12 Issues
P. 26
The Admirable Viper ○ it, based on the threat the prey repre- ○ the nine years she has conducted
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○ sents. In each case, the snake must ○ research in the Montezuma Castle Na-
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determine the best method of approach ○ tional Monument in Arizona, which has
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eing compared to a rattlesnake ○ or risk being bitten or poisoned by a ○
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might call for a punch in the ○ wrong choice. Dr. Randall W. Reiserer, ○ ○ a rattlesnake population of 75 to 100
snakes per square mile, only two people
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Bnose. But perhaps no longer. ○ Department of Biomedical Engineering, ○ ○ have been bittenone was working for
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This once reviled member of the pit vi- ○ Vanderbilt University, believes these ○
per family is rapidly gaining some ○ ○ her. Still . . .trackers beware; watch who
○ separate species could be trained to hunt ○ youre calling a tube sock!
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respect. Usually dismissed as a brain- ○ using each others methods. Snakes
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less tube sock, the rattlesnake and its ○ turn out to be very complicated crea- ○ ○
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viper kin are the subjects of renewed ○ tures, he said. But they have few ways ○ March Board Notes
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study, with some surprising results. ○ to express what they know. ○ ○
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More astonishing is the discovery ○ * A motion to approve a BLM
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request for $2,000 toward traffic
○ that, in addition to widely differing mat- ○ ○ control gates at the campground has
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○ ing styles among the males of the same ○ been tabled until the April board
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○ species, females can be caring mothers. ○ meeting.
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○ Unlike most snake species, a great ma- ○ * A motion was approved to
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jority of vipers bear live young.
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○ ○ disburse $7,500 to the Red Rock
○ Parental behavior among black-tailed ○ Canyon Interpretive Assn. (RRCIA)
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○ and pygmy rattlesnakes defied previous ○ ○ for the Interpretive Sign Project by
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○ notions that mother snakes would just ○ April 30, and the remaining $7,500
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slither away after giving birth, leaving ○ by August 31.
○ * A one-day retreat for the Friends
the babies on their own. But instead, ○
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○ ○ and RRCIA boards has been
○ said Dr. Harry W. Greene of Cornell ○ scheduled for May 3, at the Mt.
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○ University, wed find a mother bask- ○ Charleston Hotel.
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Vipers represent an ancient and ○ ing with her young day after day, or ○ ○ * The Cultural Resources Comm-
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mittee will meet twice a month until
diverse group of snakesmore than 200 ○ ○ guarding the entrance to a burrow while ○ ○ further notice to revise photo
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specieswhich populate every conti- ○ ○ the babies were inside. Once, he said, ○ documentation of existing sites and
nent except Australia. They all come ○ he saw a little viper start to emerge from ○ record new sites, which will be
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equipped with signature erectile fangs ○ its hole, but the mother put her head on ○ assigned Smithsonian numbers.
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that lie flat against the snakes upper ○ him and nudged him back inside. Re- ○ * BLM report:
palate when its mouth is closed. But ○ ○ searchers speculate that parental care ○ ○ Mark Rekshynskyj has been
promoted to Park Mgr. The title of
may have evolved because baby vipers
come too close, and those venom-filled ○ ○ dont shed their skin at birth, like other ○ ○ Visitor Center Mrg. will be replaced
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fangs pop out to large dimensions. Pit ○ ○ by a Lead Park Ranger position.
vipers, including the rattlesnake, are so ○ snakes, until they are about 10 days old ○ ○ New positions: Natural Re-
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called because of the specialized con- ○ and are therefore very vulnerable dur- ○ sources/Outdoor Recreation
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○ ing the shedding period.
cave pits between snout and mouth ○ ○ Planner; Lead Law Enforcement
○ Herpetology is taking its cue from ○ Ranger; Sloan Canyon Park Mgr.
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which pick up heat signals from prey or ○
Funding for the Oliver Ranch
intruders. ○ ○ primate research, closely tracking indi- ○ ○ Field School and for our new Visi-
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According to The New York Times, ○ ○ vidual snakes over long periods of time ○ tor Center has been approved
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biologists are having to change their pre- ○ to learn who they socialize with and ○ among the 16 projects to be funded
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sumptions about a host of reptile behaviors, ○ whether they form pair bonds. Not to ○ from the sale of public lands by the
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acknowledging that vipers are capable ○ worry, according to Erika Nowak of the ○ BLM.
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of learning from experience. They can ○ Southwest Biological Science Center of ○ ○ The 13 Mile Campground will
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even fine tune their hunting strategies to ○ the United States Geological Survey. ○ close June 1, and re-open August
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address new circumstances. Both East- ○ Rattlesnakes go to great lengths to avoid ○ ○ 26, saving $10,000 in operating
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costs.
ern and Western vipers hunt frogs and biting people or having anything to do * The next board meeting will be
lizards, but each species makes adapta- with them at all. Getting bitten is the re- held on April 8, at 5:30 p.m. at the
tions in how they lure the prey, or forego sult of harassment most of the time. In Sahara West Library.
Page 2 FORRC/April 2003
