Habitat Selection of a Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) population in Middle Tennessee

Abstract

Habitat selection is an important aspect of a species' natural history, with applications specifically in the management of at-risk organisms. This study assesses habitat usage of the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) at three different spatial scales (landscape, home range, and microhabitat) and two separate temporal scales (entire active season, and core activity range) in Middle Tennessee. The study produced significant results at both the landscape and microhabitat scale when analyzed over the entire active season, and for landscape and home range scales during the core activity range. Rattlesnakes showed a preference for mixed-hardwood forests at the landscape scale and open-canopied habitats at the home range scale. Additionally, rock cover was a negative predictor of microhabitat selection. While statistically significant, the microhabitat models performed poorly when cross-validated. This suggests that timber rattlesnakes in Middle Tennessee are likely habitat generalists.