Exploring Timber Rattlesnakes of New England: A Story of Their Natural History and Conservation Featuring Ecologist Mark P. DesMeules

Saturday, July 8, 2023

10:00AM - 11:30AM

The Bellows Falls Fish Ladder and Visitor Center, 17 Bridge St, Bellows Falls, VT 05101

Sliding Scale – FREE, $10, $15, or $20

Hear the true odyssey of an ecologist’s discovery, perseverance, research and success in protecting one of the most important ecologically significant Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) habitats in New England. A fifteen-year journey begins during the renaissance era of The Nature Conservancy’s Natural Heritage ecological inventory efforts in the early 1980’s and it leads to the discovery, study and protection of one of the most amazing natural areas in Vermont and in New England.

The story begins with the tracking down of museum specimens, an enlightened amateur herpetologist on his deathbed, a friendship with the rough and tumble /hardscrabble land owners, and years of work documenting population dynamics, habits, threats, reproduction, protection needs and more. This initial fifteen years of work finally culminated in a major conservation success that is perhaps one of the best success stories for rattlesnake conservation and it continues to yield conservation lessons. Included in this presentation will be lessons learned regarding the study and protection of threatened species that are applicable to many other species.

Presenter Bio: Mark P. DesMeules is a lifelong ecologist. He’s the former Director of Science & Stewardship, The Nature Conservancy – Vermont. Currently Senior Ecologist, Cameron Fund for Conservation – Alna, Maine.