Copperhead Ecology in the Red River Gorge
Natural recreation areas are valuable resources, both economically and from the aspect of conservation. Paradoxically, these areas also facilitate some level of human-wildlife interaction, which can result in negative consequences for both humans and wildlife, especially in the case of perceptibly dangerous animals.
Ultimately, our objective is to reduce conflict between copperheads and humans. By studying copperhead life history, we hope to (1) create a platform for education and awareness that lowers perceived risk, as well as (2) develop data-driven, sustainable management techniques that benefit both snakes and recreational site users. Our recent work has investigated patterns related to population structure and site use, foraging behavior, movement ecology, and human dimensions.
Students
Currently, graduate students Josh Hendricks and Jesse Sockman are leading the project (see Members tab for more info). Austin Owens, Kyle Muennich, and Renae Steinberger are also heavily involved in the project. Other students who have assisted include: David Smith, Sarah Phillips, Matt Mineo, Jacob Stark, Alex Baecher, Jeff Folkerts, Antwanai Seay-Moreland, and Peyton Blair.
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Collaborators
We have worked closely with the USFS to collect mark-recapture, behavioral, and telemetry data. Recently, Dr. Michael Bradley (EKU Department of Parks and Recreation) has been working with us to address the human dimensions aspect of the system.
Acknowledgements
Support for our research comes from the Department of Biological Sciences and the Division of Natural Areas at EKU, the US Forest Service, The Louisville Zoo, Kentucky Herpetological Society, the National Science Foundation, and Kentucky Society of Natural History.
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