The Orianne Society, in conjunction with the University of Georgia, is conducting a field project on Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake ecology. The ecological project focuses on determining how habitat loss and fragmentation has influenced the distribution and abundance of Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes in Coastal Georgia and includes extensive surveys for the species on coastal islands and mainland sites. Once the surveys are complete we will begin developing a model to determine how habitat loss and fragmentation influence Eastern Diamondback occurrence and abundance.

We are also developing The Eastern Diamondback Conservation Action Plan with the collaboration of the Eastern Diamondback Conservation Action Planning Team and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Viper Specialist Group (VSG), which is chaired by our CEO and Executive Director, Dr. Christopher Jenkins. The Eastern Diamondback Conservation Action Planning Team is a group of experts on Eastern Diamondback ecology and conservation management.

The Orianne Society is will be holding the first meeting of the Eastern Diamondback Conservation Action Planning Team at the Southeast Partners for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (SEPARC) meeting in February of 2011. During this initial meeting, the Planning Team will work to assess the current, range-wide status of Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes and to determine what measures are necessary to ensure their survival. Team members will be identifying future research and conservation needs, as well as discussing policy issues.

The Eastern Diamondback Conservation Action Plan will be used by government agencies and private landowners as a guideline to conserving this species by outlining research and conservation needs and making recommendations on state regulations in each region within the Eastern Diamondbacks Range.

The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake occurs in several protected areas in the southeast United States, but there are currently no regulations in place to limit the numbers of rattlesnakes that are harvested from the wild. Recommendations made by researchers and wildlife agencies include introducing limits and seasonal harvest guidelines for the number of snakes which can be taken by hunters, refocusing rattlesnake round-ups as wildlife festivals, and reclassifying the eastern diamond-backed rattlesnake as a game animal for which a hunting licence is required. However, these proposals have yet to be enforced. In 1993, the Gopher Tortoise Council formed the Rattlesnake Conservation Committee (RCC), which has since evolved into the Upland Snake Conservation Initiative. This initiative aims to promote public education and investigate the biology of the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake to aid in its conservation.

To find out more about The Upland Snake Conservation Initiative log on to http://www.gophertortoisecouncil.org/usci.php

To find out more about the IUCN Viper Specialist Group, log on to www.viperspecialistgroup.org