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Project T-135-R1

​Project Title: Informed Adaptive Management and Habitat Restoration Prioritization for the Conservation of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus)

Community and/or Species Focus:

 Eastern Massasauga

Goals/Objectives:
  1. Identify all habitat patches on state and federally listed managed lands in a southern Illinois lake suitable for Eastern Massasauga  
  2. Preform visual encounter surveys on at least 50% of the suitable habitat patches
  3. Determine the phenology and environmental factors that drive ingress and egress by monitoring individual snakes
  4. Prioritize and rank risk factors affecting the long persistence of at least 15 hibernacula on state and federally listed managed lands
Achievements:
  1. ​Provide the estimate amount and quality of suitable Eastern Massasauga habitat in southern Illinois lake
  2. Provide a determination if extant populations exist on protected lands outside the lake
  3. Determine the best explanatory variables influencing ingress and egress so managers can conduct appropriate management activities  
  4. Prioritize at-risk hibernacula basked on extrinsic threats such as floor risk and invasive species control

Post-Project Survey (if applicable): n/a

Project Period: 2/1/21 - 6/30/24

Principle Investigator(s):

Michael J. Dreslik, Seth M. LaGrange, Ethan J. Kessler, Andrew C.B. Jesper (Illinois Natural History Survey), and John A. Crawford (National Great Rivers Research and Education Center)

Final Report: Project is currently underway; "Achievements" are projections of what is to be accomplished.