Snakes

Snake Species

Roads have been described as ecological traps for snakes. Since snakes are ectotherms, they need to obtain heat from their environment, so they are often attracted to the heat-retaining surfaces of highways. This increases the chances of them being killed by passing vehicles. When commuting snakes cross a road, some species become immobile in response to oncoming traffic, further increasing their chances of being hit. Additionally, snakes are potentially at risk of becoming trapped in foundation trenches, pipework, or machinery on poorly fenced construction sites.

Wandering snakes are more susceptible than more sedentary species. Research has shown that gopher snakes, for example, suffer higher rates of road-kill than rattlesnakes. This is particularly true during two periods of the year: in spring or summer – depending on the species – adult males are more prone to wandering as they seek out females to mate with; in fall, juveniles often disperse from their natal site. In spring, snakes are most active during peak vehicle commuting periods, while in summer activity is restricted to the coolest parts of the day (earlier and later), when traffic volumes are less. Poorly fenced construction sites also hold many hazards for wandering snakes, especially since these often provide attractive locations for females to nest.

It is the responsibility of planning engineers to reduce the ecological impact of roads and construction sites and use mitigation measures as tools in ecological conservation. The right kind of exclusion fencing, particularly if installed well and used in conjunction with mitigation features such as eco-passages, can reduce snake road-kill and construction site mortality dramatically. Construction sites are potential death-traps for snakes, and the presence of venomous species is clearly unwelcome where workers are engaged in construction – hence the need for effective exclusion fencing.

Fencing can also be used to aid population assessment before the development of new construction sites.