Rattlesnake presentation highlights Driftless species
Erik Wild stands in front of a projector during his presentation about timber rattlesnakes in the Driftless Region. The presentation, which took place earlier this summer, covered reproduction and habits of the species. (Steve Van Kooten/Courier Press)
Wild's snakes may inspire a 'ssssss' but definitely not a 'zzzzzz'
By Steve Van Kooten
Let's face it: rattlesnakes don't have a positive reputation, and other than worrying whether they're underfoot, people don't think about them much at all.
To counteract some of the misconceptions about snakes, herpetologist Erik Wild presented "Rattlesnakes of the Driftless Region" at the Ferryville Village Hall this past month to shed some light on the historical and current-day state of the area's rattlesnake populations.
"When I talk to people, I find they are really polarized to these two extremes: they're either out there and really passionate about it or absolutely terrified," he said.
Wild has surveyed rattlesnake species in the area for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources over the past several years. During that time, he's become very familiar with the area and its residents.
"When I come here, I stay here, and I get to visit with the people here," he said. "I get to know people's attitudes and learn what people think of rattlesnakes and snakes in general. So, it's a no-brainer to come back and share what I've found going on in your area."
He called the Driftless Region a "special" area that allows the proliferation of unique flora and fauna. Through his research, which includes studies conducted across the North and South American continents, he has a global view of the area's significance.
Wild developed a keen interest in reptiles during his childhood and followed that passion through UW-Stevens Point. He planned to teach high school biology.
While applying for teaching jobs, he chose to attend the University of Kansas. The school boasted a robust program in herpetology, mostly focused on Central and South America.
"I ended up doing extensive research in a wide variety of places in South America: the Amazon Basin, the Andes, and the Pantanal," said Wild. "And then I was able to carry that on into a career as a professor when I got hired back at Stevens Point."
He mostly documents timber rattlesnakes in the area, which holds one of the most northern populations of rattlesnakes west of the Mississippi River.
"The title is a little misleading—I mean, there are a lot of rattlesnakes—but I don't want to confuse you because, in Wisconsin, there are two kinds," said Wild.
The state hosts 21 different snake species, but only the timber rattler and the eastern massasauga are venomous. The venom from both species is capable of killing a human being.
Wild focused on the timber rattler because the massasauga population is sparse in the region. It’s classified as a threatened species on the federal level, has a limited range, and has a "terribly reduced" population in the seven areas it can still be found in.
"It does occur in the Driftless Region, but it's a river bottom, floodplain species. It likes the marshes and swamps," said Wild. "Although it's in the area, it's not relevant to the landscape and such."
Timber rattlesnake populations are present throughout a large portion of the continental United States, but there's a stronghold in the Upper Midwest, where several features appeal to them, including exposed, porous rock faces, open prairies, and adjacent woodlands.
"Those three things are particularly relevant because it's a timber rattler; it occurs in the forest," said Wild.
Even though the Driftless has many favorable conditions, the snakes have to adapt to the shorter warm season and freezing temperatures during the winter. In the northern portion of the country, they congregate in dens. In the south, the species doesn't exhibit that behavior, preferring shallower domiciles under fallen trees or in burrows.
"They need to get deeper below the frost line to keep from freezing than they do farther south," added Wild.
He also noted that the warm months in the Driftless Region are "just long enough" for the species to reproduce; however, females only give birth every two to three years due to the shorter warm season.
The Midwest poses other challenges for snakes, including fungal disease, invasive flora like poison sumac, and dwindling prairies and woodlands to live in, but active conservation has helped stabilize many populations. It's a stark change from the rattlesnakes' turbulent history of cohabitating with humans in the Wisconsin area.
Until approximately 1975, there were bounties on rattlesnakes. People received payment for killing and retrieving the bodies of snakes due to their perceived danger to farmers and residents. The practice started much further back when Europeans settled in the area.
"It was a different time: you had to work the soil by hand, you didn't have an ambulance that could come, and these kinds of things. Things were much different then," said Wild.
Wild's presentation is part of the Ferryville Tourism Council's 12th Summer Chautauqua Series, which presents learning topics once a month throughout the season. Other programs this summer included Larry Scheckel's "Amish in Wisconsin" on July 9 and Robert Taunt's "Marquette and Joliet," which will take place on Aug. 13 at the Ferryville Town Hall.
