A Technique For External Radio-Transmitter Attachment And The Use Of Thread-Bobbins For Studying Snake Movements

Abstract

Radio-tracking is a widely used method in studies of snake movement and habitat use. However, radio-tracking has some inconveniences, such as the invasiveness of surgical transmitter implantation and the high costs of receivers and transmitters. Here we describe a technique for external radio-transmitter attachment in snakes and the use of thread-bobbins (quilt-cocoons or spool-and-line device) as an alternative for tracking snakes. Both methods allow the animals to resume their natural behavior just after handling and to be monitored until the detachment of the device, usually upon shedding. These characteristics seemed to be particularly useful when the survey must be done within short periods of time with a high number of snakes. The use of thread-bobbins greatly facilitates the gathering of data on movement, habitat use, effective distance moved, and substrate use of snakes in the wild.