WEBVTT

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- Welcome everyone
to Wednesday Nite @ the Lab.

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I'm Tom Zinnen.

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I work at the University
of Wisconsin-Madison

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Biotechnology Center.

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I also work for the Division
of Extension Wisconsin 4-H.

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And on behalf of those folks
and our other co-organizers,

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PBS Wisconsin, the Wisconsin
Alumni Association,

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and the UW-Madison
Science Alliance,

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thanks again for coming
to Wednesday Nite @ the Lab.

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We do this every Wednesday
night, 50 times a year.

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Tonight, it's my pleasure
to introduce to you Will Vuyk.

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He was born in Milwaukee and
went to Shorewood High School.

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And then he came to UW-Madison,
where he studied both

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history and biology.

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And while he was here,

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he was a Holstrom Environmental
fellow, and that's where

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he got to develop further
his long interest in snakes.

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He currently is
president of the board

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of the Friends of the
Lakeshore Nature Preserve.

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The Lakeshore Nature Preserve
is made up of 300 acres

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here of the 930 acres
on the UW-Madison campus.

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Tonight, he's gonna speak with
us about snakes where we live,

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the urban ecology of serpents.

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Would you please join me
in welcoming Will Vuyk

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to Wednesday Nite @ the Lab?

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- Thank you Tom, and thanks
everyone for tuning in tonight.

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I am so excited to talk
with you all about snakes.

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Snakes are some of the
most storied animals

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in the history of humankind,
and I'm just here

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to tell my snake story.

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I know many of you
have your own stories

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or have heard stories
from other people about snakes.

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They are truly hard to forget.

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But my story starts
with this kiddo here,

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who loved to catch critters.

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That kiddo is me,
if you can't tell.

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And I especially liked snakes,
but as I grew older,

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life got more complicated.

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I went to school,

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a number of different schools,
and in high school,

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a wise teacher of mine advised
when we encountered a snake

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out on the trail,
we were on a hiking trip.

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He said, "If you see
a snake with scales

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"that are red on black,
don't pick it up.

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"You see a snake with scales
that are red on yellow,

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"don't pick that one up either.

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"If you see a snake, and this
is a little more difficult,

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with black scales and yellow
scales, don't pick it up."

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He brought the point home with,

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"If you see a snake that's any
other color, what don't you do?"

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And we all replied,
"We don't pick it up."

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So I was indoctrinated
a bit in high school

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against my childhood tendencies,

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but as you're gonna
be able to tell

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through the rest of
this presentation,

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I really took that
lesson to heart.

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I caught so many snakes last
summer, biking around Madison,

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checking boards at all of these
different prairie restorations.

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I handled over a hundred
different snakes.

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But I go through this long story
to point out that

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these snakes are on these
protected reserves

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and you need special permission
to handle them.

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Not everyone can go out
and look for snakes like I did.

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I had permission from the
Research Animal Resources

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and Compliance Office
at UW-Madison,

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as well as research permits
from Dane County Parks,

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Madison Parks, the UW Arboretum,

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and the UW Lakeshore
Nature Preserve.

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The truth is that snakes really
don't like being handled.

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They would much rather
be left alone,

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like this shy garter snake here.

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They are marvelously adapted
to so many

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different snakey things,
but being handled

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and squeezed by humans,
it doesn't make that list.

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So if you have the snake's
best interest at heart,

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the best thing to do
is to observe them

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and respect them
from a distance.

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Both you and the snake will
come out better for it.

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With that said, I wanna
walk everyone through

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what to expect
from this talk tonight.

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We're gonna first touch on
what a snake is,

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their evolution, their taxonomy.

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It's actually a little more
of a mystery

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than you would expect.

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We're also gonna talk about why
we should care about snakes,

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their ecology, their sensitivity
to different urban factors

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in the environments we live in.

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Also, we're gonna talk about
what I uncovered

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from my study last summer,
and in conclusion,

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I'm gonna have some words
about snakes

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and their role in urban
restoration ecology,

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so let's jump right in.

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What is a snake?

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Like I said, this is
kind of more of a mystery

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than you would think about
at first glance.

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Snakes, they look
like lizards, right,

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and so that's the idea that
they did evolve from lizards

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at some point, but exactly
what point that is

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is still up for debate,
and why that happened is also,

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scientists aren't
completely sure.

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There are ideas that snakes
evolved their longer,

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more streamlined bodies because
they were aquatic lizards

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that gained that form
because it gave them

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a better ability to swim.

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There are some scientists
who argue that maybe

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more likely that snakes
evolved from burrowing animals

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that needed that
long, streamlined form

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to fit in crevices and to burrow
into the sand and the earth.

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There was a recent study
done on some fossils

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found in Argentina
by a team there,

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and snake fossils
are really hard to find

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because like I said earlier,
snakes are super flexible,

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but they're really fragile
as well.

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That's why handling them
can be so dangerous,

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for the snake
as well as for you.

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And so they really
don't hold up well

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over the millions of years
of fossilization.

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And so it was
really spectacular,

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these fossils that
were found in Argentina

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of this snake here,
the Najash snake.

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And it has some interesting
features that have helped us

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try to piece together some gaps
in snake evolution.

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One of them is, this snake
has legs in the back there,

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there are two hind legs
this snake has,

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and so that tells us
that really snakes,

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an inherent part of being
a snake isn't necessarily

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not having legs.

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That snakes have had legs
for a very long time,

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and this wasn't just
something they evolved out of.

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It was something
that these legs,

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even though they were small,
were really regularly used

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for thousands,
if not millions of years.

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We still actually have snakes
with us today

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that do sort of have legs,

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depending on your definition
of what a leg is.

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Boas or snakes
in the family Boidae,

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they have these,
they're called spurs.

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They're attached to the,
I guess the pelvic bones

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that they still have
right by their butt end,

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and they still use these spurs,

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even though they
don't have joints

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and musculature like a leg,

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they still are muscled enough
that they can use them

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to walk, they can use them
to grab onto things,

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to hold onto tree branches,

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so there are these
really useful organs

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that snakes still use.

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So again, now how can you
tell the difference

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between a snake and a lizard
if it isn't between

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which has legs
and which doesn't?

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'Cause there are
legless lizards

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that look quite a bit
like snakes.

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One of the ways that we can
tell, most paleontologists

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and taxonomists,
they're gonna look at bones.

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They're gonna look
at the skull structure

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and they're gonna tell you
that the skull structure

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of a lizard and a snake
are very, very different.

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But looking at an animal
from our perspective,

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an alive animal,
hopefully off doing

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its cool living things
out in the world,

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that the best way for us to tell

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is whether it has
eyelids or not.

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Lizards have eyelids;
I like using alliteration:

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They're lidded lizards.

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Snakes have spectacles,
spectacled snakes.

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And spectacles are these
really cool specialized scales.

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You see all the scales that
this artist has depicted

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on the Najash illustration
there, and if you just imagine

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one more of those scales
simply covering

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the eye of the snake,
but this scale is clear.

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It acts like a windshield.

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We think about how
snakes may have evolved

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as burrowing creatures,
having a windshield

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that you don't have
to close your eyes

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as you're pursuing prey
through the sand

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is a really great idea,

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and especially if
you have some dings,

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maybe some sand scratches that
that windshield

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or that lens, all snakes
have to do is shed their skin

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and they get a new,
shiny one underneath.

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So look for eyelids,
if you're trying to determine

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if something's a lizard
or a snake.

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Some other
characteristics of snakes,

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they're predatory
and they're exothermic,

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so ectothermic actually
is the correct term.

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That means that ecto
is basically outside,

08:50.566 --> 08:54.166 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
thermic means heat, and so
they have to take the heat

08:54.166 --> 08:57.533 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
that they use to heat their
bodies from the outside.

08:57.533 --> 08:59.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
They can't generate it
from within

08:59.200 --> 09:03.500 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
like we can as endotherms,
or hot-blooded creatures,

09:03.500 --> 09:05.366 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
and so we're gonna talk
much more about this

09:05.366 --> 09:07.166 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
and how that's important
to their ecology,

09:07.166 --> 09:09.766 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
but I just wanna
introduce it now.

09:09.766 --> 09:11.233 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
And the fact that
they're predatory.

09:11.233 --> 09:13.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
There are no herbivorous snakes.

09:13.400 --> 09:15.833 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
Some snakes will
supplement their diet

09:15.833 --> 09:17.466 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
with plants and other things,

09:17.466 --> 09:21.533 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
but that's mostly just in
addition to all of the meat

09:21.533 --> 09:22.966 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
that they're eating otherwise,

09:22.966 --> 09:25.133 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
and they all have really
special adaptations.

09:25.133 --> 09:28.833 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
That's part of how their skull
structure is so different

09:28.833 --> 09:32.466 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
because they're able to fit
giant, at least to us,

09:32.466 --> 09:34.466 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
seemingly giant amounts
of food into their mouth,

09:34.466 --> 09:36.966 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
and then they can be good
for weeks to months.

09:38.500 --> 09:43.000 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
But since Najash was crawling
under the toes of dinosaurs

09:43.000 --> 09:46.000 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
in the late Cretaceous period,
snakes have diversified

09:46.000 --> 09:50.733 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
and evolved into multitudes
of different forms.

09:50.733 --> 09:54.033 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
Two of those families that are
most dominant in Wisconsin,

09:54.033 --> 09:57.600 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
if we just think about
Wisconsin, are the Colubridae

09:57.600 --> 10:01.366 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
 
and the Viperidae or
Colubrid snakes and vipers.

10:01.366 --> 10:03.100 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
So this is important
in Wisconsin

10:03.100 --> 10:07.433 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
because the two venomous species
we have are both vipers,

10:07.433 --> 10:09.333 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5%
they're both rattlesnakes.

10:09.333 --> 10:11.500 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
So there are often
some rules of thumb

10:11.500 --> 10:12.766 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
that are tossed around

10:12.766 --> 10:15.466 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
of how to identify a colubrid
snake versus a viper,

10:15.466 --> 10:17.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and colubrids, they have
more rounded pupils,

10:17.900 --> 10:19.500 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
they look kind of
more like human eyes,

10:19.500 --> 10:23.033 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
when vipers have
more cat slit pupils.

10:23.033 --> 10:25.533 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
Vipers tend to be
a little stockier,

10:25.533 --> 10:27.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
portly-looking snakes,
when colubrids tend to be

10:27.833 --> 10:31.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
a little thinner, more
just longer and thinner.

10:32.900 --> 10:36.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Also, vipers have this
really distinguishing,

10:36.100 --> 10:39.400 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
more arrow-shaped broad head,

10:39.400 --> 10:41.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and sometimes colubrids
will even try to mimic that

10:41.533 --> 10:43.566 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
to look more like a rattlesnake.

10:43.566 --> 10:45.766 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
But in the end, if you're
like me, you're out looking

10:45.766 --> 10:48.066 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
for snakes and you have to
make a split-second decision

10:48.066 --> 10:50.633 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
is a snake venomous
or non-venomous,

10:50.633 --> 10:55.633 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
oftentimes these rules of thumb
are not that reliable.

10:55.633 --> 10:57.633 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
Three of those snakes
are actually colubrids,

10:57.633 --> 10:59.266 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
even though many of them
do look like

10:59.266 --> 11:02.466 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
they could be venomous,
so the best rule,

11:02.466 --> 11:05.000 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
this is always correct,
don't pick up,

11:05.000 --> 11:06.166 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
don't pick up the snake.

11:06.166 --> 11:08.866 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
My high school teacher
was correct in many ways.

11:08.866 --> 11:10.833 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
Many situations,
it's just better

11:10.833 --> 11:12.500 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
to leave the snake where it is.

11:13.733 --> 11:16.566 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
But we are lucky
in Wisconsin because

11:16.566 --> 11:20.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
the two venomous species we have
are first off, beautiful.

11:20.800 --> 11:23.400 align:left position:32.5% line:71% size:57.5%
I love how the
timber rattlesnake looks.

11:23.400 --> 11:27.566 align:left position:32.5% line:71% size:57.5%
 
It has this amazing copper color
down its spine.

11:27.566 --> 11:28.800 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
But they're also rattlesnakes,

11:28.800 --> 11:31.133 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
and rattlesnakes are
really easy to identify

11:31.133 --> 11:32.666 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5%
because they have rattles.

11:32.666 --> 11:34.666 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
There are no other snakes in
Wisconsin that have rattles.

11:34.666 --> 11:37.933 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
If you see a snake with rattles,
it is a rattlesnake.

11:37.933 --> 11:39.433 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
And just to to point that out,

11:39.433 --> 11:41.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
the rattle is right on
the end of its tail,

11:41.466 --> 11:43.633 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
it's actually sort of
as the snake sheds,

11:44.633 --> 11:47.100 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
segments of its tail
then sort of dry out

11:47.100 --> 11:50.266 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
and protrude from the back
and when shaken,

11:50.266 --> 11:52.233 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
there are all these
layers inside that rattle

11:52.233 --> 11:56.066 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5%
and create that
distinctive sound.

11:56.066 --> 11:58.066 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
So the rattlesnake has a rattle

11:58.066 --> 12:00.066 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
because it really doesn't
want you to get very close.

12:00.066 --> 12:02.366 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
It's gonna rattle to warn you
to stay away.

12:02.366 --> 12:04.233 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
Rattlesnakes, just like
every other snake,

12:04.233 --> 12:07.033 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
they're timid, they would
rather be left alone.

12:07.033 --> 12:10.133 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
The last rattlesnake fatality
recorded in Wisconsin,

12:10.133 --> 12:14.066 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
rattlesnake-related fatality
recorded by the DNR

12:14.066 --> 12:18.400 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
was back in 1900,
so over 120 years ago.

12:18.400 --> 12:20.733 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
These snakes are rare,
they're timid.

12:20.733 --> 12:24.966 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
The chances that you're going
to have an unwanted encounter

12:24.966 --> 12:27.400 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
with one of these
snakes is rare.

12:27.400 --> 12:29.500 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
Again, the timber rattlesnake,
we just find that,

12:29.500 --> 12:33.500 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
according to the DNR, just on
the western edge of the state,

12:33.500 --> 12:35.000 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
and even in those counties

12:35.000 --> 12:37.633 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
where they are reported,
they are quite scarce.

12:38.633 --> 12:41.733 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The eastern massasauga is the
second species of rattlesnake

12:41.733 --> 12:42.900 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
we have in the state.

12:42.900 --> 12:44.366 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5%
This species is even rarer.

12:44.366 --> 12:47.833 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
It's the only federally-listed
herp we have here in the state,

12:47.833 --> 12:50.566 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
and the DNR and the forest
and wildlife service

12:50.566 --> 12:52.133 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
are working together to try
and understand

12:52.133 --> 12:55.733 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5%
exactly how few
of these snakes we have left.

12:55.733 --> 12:58.266 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
So if you find one of these
snakes, again,

12:58.266 --> 13:01.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
enjoy it from a distance,
they're beautiful,

13:02.266 --> 13:05.433 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and really count yourself
among a lucky few

13:05.433 --> 13:09.033 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
to have ever encountered an
eastern massasauga in Wisconsin.

13:10.033 --> 13:13.433 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
And they kind of have been
reported in a number of counties

13:13.433 --> 13:14.800 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
through the center of the state,

13:14.800 --> 13:18.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
but again, super scarce,
very hard to find.

13:19.766 --> 13:22.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
So we've talked about venom,
we've talked about

13:22.333 --> 13:24.533 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
the two dangerous species
of snake in Wisconsin.

13:24.533 --> 13:27.100 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
Snakes, just generally
in western culture,

13:27.100 --> 13:30.033 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
have been hit from all sides
with all sorts of slander.

13:30.033 --> 13:33.900 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
Whether that's from the Bible
or from<i>Indiana Jones.</i>

13:33.900 --> 13:37.933 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
Even you look in science,
you find great scientists

13:37.933 --> 13:41.233 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
or people who we look up to
as the epitome

13:41.233 --> 13:45.166 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
of scientific thought
in the early 18th century.

13:45.166 --> 13:47.366 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
Like Carl Linnaeus, who's
considered the father

13:47.366 --> 13:50.733 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
of modern taxonomy,
he spit out these words

13:50.733 --> 13:53.966 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
back in 1758 referring to
snakes; he referred to them

13:53.966 --> 13:57.700 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
as, "These foul loathsome
creatures are abhorrent."

13:57.700 --> 14:00.233 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
And then he spent the rest of
the paragraph talking about

14:00.233 --> 14:05.300 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
all the minutiae that he found
really distasteful about snakes.

14:07.233 --> 14:09.500 align:left position:37.5% line:5% size:52.5%
[chuckles]
It cracks me up

14:09.500 --> 14:11.500 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
that he spent all the time
to write this down.

14:11.500 --> 14:14.500 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
There are so many things that
we can appreciate about snakes

14:14.500 --> 14:17.066 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
and we're gonna talk
about those now,

14:17.066 --> 14:19.933 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
leaving Carl back in the 1700s.

14:21.000 --> 14:22.700 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
Why care about snakes?

14:22.700 --> 14:26.000 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
Snakes are breaking so many
of the ideas that we have

14:26.000 --> 14:28.433 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
about what a cold-blooded
creature can be,

14:28.433 --> 14:30.866 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
especially these
garter snakes here.

14:30.866 --> 14:32.466 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
They are really social.

14:32.466 --> 14:35.266 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
They have to survive
in northern climes,

14:35.266 --> 14:38.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
like here in Wisconsin,
they have to live communally

14:38.200 --> 14:42.233 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
all throughout the winter
to basically allow themselves

14:42.233 --> 14:45.833 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
to maintain the amount of heat
and to not freeze

14:45.833 --> 14:48.366 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
as they would if they were
just out along on their own,

14:48.366 --> 14:49.766 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
and so they have
to develop these

14:49.766 --> 14:52.400 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
really complicated
social structures

14:52.400 --> 14:56.133 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
and have a really
sophisticated social cognition.

14:56.133 --> 14:58.733 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
They will recognize snakes
that they've grown up with.

14:58.733 --> 15:01.900 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
There was a study done by a
researcher, Morgan Skinner,

15:01.900 --> 15:04.333 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
who found that these snakes
will have friends,

15:04.333 --> 15:05.833 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
they will actively
seek out snakes

15:05.833 --> 15:07.266 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
that they've grown up with

15:07.266 --> 15:12.266 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
and try to cuddle
with them in shelter.

15:12.266 --> 15:16.666 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
They also, these snakes
give live birth.

15:16.666 --> 15:19.066 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
They have lots of really
amazing adaptations

15:19.066 --> 15:22.633 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
that sort of break
all of the assumptions

15:22.633 --> 15:24.000 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
that we've made about...

15:25.133 --> 15:26.433 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
Yeah, like the limitations

15:26.433 --> 15:28.633 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
we've put on lizards
and reptiles generally.

15:28.633 --> 15:33.466 align:left position:32.5% line:71% size:57.5%
They're social,
they will maintain

15:33.466 --> 15:35.333 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
really high body temperatures
if they want to.

15:35.333 --> 15:37.500 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
They just have to do that
behaviorally.

15:37.500 --> 15:40.400 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
So really quite amazing,
and they communicate

15:40.400 --> 15:45.366 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
through smell, and snakes,
through this communication

15:45.366 --> 15:48.666 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
with smell, and they even
perceive the world around them

15:48.666 --> 15:52.533 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
largely through smell, and this
is such a different way

15:52.533 --> 15:55.566 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
of perceiving the world than
we can even really imagine.

15:55.566 --> 15:58.833 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
And this is another really
interesting thing about snakes

15:58.833 --> 16:00.866 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
and why we need to continue
to learn about them

16:00.866 --> 16:05.166 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
because they use both
their nostrils to smell,

16:05.166 --> 16:06.566 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
but they can also
use their tongue,

16:06.566 --> 16:08.766 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
and that's why their tongue
is always coming in and out

16:08.766 --> 16:11.966 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
of their mouth, and their tongue
is forked as well.

16:11.966 --> 16:15.633 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
Part of that is because that
shape allows the creation

16:15.633 --> 16:18.833 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
of these eddies of air
underneath the tongue.

16:18.833 --> 16:23.800 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
This is a picture taken
by Kurt Schwenk in Connecticut,

16:23.800 --> 16:26.533 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
a researcher in Connecticut,
where they used a laser

16:26.533 --> 16:28.900 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
to highlight all of the
different particles in the air

16:28.900 --> 16:32.200 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
and then they took a really
fast picture of a snake

16:32.200 --> 16:34.433 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
with its tongue coming out,
and it creates these eddies

16:34.433 --> 16:36.600 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
that maximize the amount
of scent particles

16:36.600 --> 16:38.266 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
that are exposed to the tongue.

16:38.266 --> 16:40.733 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
And the snake's tongue
is also forked

16:40.733 --> 16:43.566 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
because it can now
sense in two directions.

16:43.566 --> 16:45.700 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
It can smell in two directions
at once.

16:45.700 --> 16:48.366 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
Just like we have two ears
on the sides of our head,

16:48.366 --> 16:51.633 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
we can tell if we snap
on one end or the other,

16:51.633 --> 16:54.666 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
snakes can tell if as scent
is more strong on one tip

16:54.666 --> 16:56.666 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
of their tongue or the
other tip of their tongue,

16:56.666 --> 16:59.700 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
and that allows them to
navigate, to hunt after prey,

16:59.700 --> 17:02.466 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
to communicate with each other,

17:02.466 --> 17:04.466 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
and so it's really
quite amazing.

17:04.466 --> 17:06.966 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
And we should try to learn more
about how they do this

17:06.966 --> 17:08.166 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
'cause it's something that

17:08.166 --> 17:10.966 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
we have a hard time
understanding ourselves,

17:10.966 --> 17:12.866 align:left position:32.5% line:71% size:57.5%
being much more
visual creatures.

17:14.333 --> 17:17.400 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
Again, another reason
to care about snakes

17:17.400 --> 17:20.366 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
is this was documented
in a study in<i>Nature</i>

17:20.366 --> 17:22.566 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
just a month or so ago.

17:22.566 --> 17:24.333 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
It made national headlines

17:24.333 --> 17:28.333 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
about they did this worldwide
study of different threats

17:28.333 --> 17:32.633 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
to reptile populations, and if
we look down at that bar chart

17:32.633 --> 17:37.366 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
in the corner, snakes are
like a blue-gray colored bar.

17:37.366 --> 17:39.233 align:left position:32.5% line:5% size:57.5%
Agriculture and
urban development

17:39.233 --> 17:40.833 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
are the two highest threats

17:40.833 --> 17:43.166 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
to snake populations
around the world,

17:43.166 --> 17:47.133 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
and we can see on the maps
there, the gradient maps.

17:47.133 --> 17:50.366 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
We see that there
are so many species,

17:50.366 --> 17:53.300 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
especially in the equatorial
regions of the planet

17:53.300 --> 17:55.266 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
that are threatened
because of agricultural

17:55.266 --> 17:58.233 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
and urban development,
but we think about Wisconsin.

17:58.233 --> 18:02.400 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
Wisconsin doesn't have the
same diversity of snake species

18:02.400 --> 18:06.766 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
as the Amazon does, but we still
do have a lot of snakes here,

18:06.766 --> 18:08.800 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
and they have been
an integral part

18:08.800 --> 18:11.366 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
of our ecosystem
since the glaciers receded.

18:12.366 --> 18:16.900 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
So in Wisconsin, we have 21
species; nine of those species

18:16.900 --> 18:18.833 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
are species of special
conservation concern,

18:18.833 --> 18:21.166 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
and four are endangered,
so if you add that up,

18:21.166 --> 18:22.900 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
that's more than
half of the species

18:22.900 --> 18:24.733 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
that have been documented
in the state

18:24.733 --> 18:27.566 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
that are under threat, and it's
the same sorts of threats

18:27.566 --> 18:28.900 align:left position:32.5% line:5% size:57.5%
that we've seen
around the world.

18:28.900 --> 18:31.300 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
It's agricultural development,
urban development,

18:31.300 --> 18:34.066 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
the destruction of
their natural habitat.

18:34.066 --> 18:36.666 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
And so we have here a picture
of the plains garter snake.

18:36.666 --> 18:39.666 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
This was one of the species
that I found in my study.

18:39.666 --> 18:42.233 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
It's of special concern,
but if you wanna learn

18:42.233 --> 18:44.766 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
more about it, the Wisconsin DNR
has all of these

18:44.766 --> 18:47.700 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
great resources about
the snakes in our state,

18:47.700 --> 18:51.900 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
including range maps like that
one there that will allow you

18:51.900 --> 18:54.300 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
to understand where these snakes
have been reported

18:54.300 --> 18:55.700 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
and then also some
other cool facts

18:55.700 --> 18:58.400 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
about what they're up to.

18:58.400 --> 19:00.533 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
And I want to emphasize again,

19:00.533 --> 19:04.000 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
snakes are integral
to our native ecosystems.

19:04.000 --> 19:07.566 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
They're the most abundant
reptile taxon in Wisconsin.

19:07.566 --> 19:11.033 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
We don't have lizards as much
as you do south of here,

19:11.033 --> 19:14.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
so snakes are really sort
of our representative

19:14.833 --> 19:17.133 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
of the reptile world,
along with turtles.

19:18.133 --> 19:19.700 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5%
They're also mesopredators.

19:19.700 --> 19:22.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
All snakes are predatory,
as I talked about earlier,

19:22.966 --> 19:25.666 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
and so they are gonna occupy

19:25.666 --> 19:28.133 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
these middle ranks
of an ecosystem.

19:28.133 --> 19:30.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
So if we think about how
an ecosystem is structured,

19:30.500 --> 19:33.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
this is a basic diagram
of how that works.

19:33.866 --> 19:37.566 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
The plants photosynthesize, they
take in energy from the sun,

19:37.566 --> 19:40.700 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
and then other critters eat
those plants to take some

19:40.700 --> 19:42.666 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
of that energy for themselves,
so we think about

19:42.666 --> 19:46.166 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
a slug or a snail
as being an herbivore,

19:46.166 --> 19:48.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
chewing on those plants
and then taking up

19:48.633 --> 19:50.766 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
all those sugars that
the plants have made

19:50.766 --> 19:52.966 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
from photosynthesis,
and then you take those sugars

19:52.966 --> 19:55.433 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
and those sugars
become more slug.

19:55.433 --> 19:58.166 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
The slug can grow
until it's eaten by a snake.

19:58.166 --> 20:00.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
This DeKay's brown snake
that I'm holding

20:00.466 --> 20:04.366 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
is a big slug eater;
they love eating slugs.

20:04.366 --> 20:08.500 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
So this snake will then take
that energy from the slug

20:08.500 --> 20:11.633 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and maybe this snake will
be picked off by a bird

20:11.633 --> 20:13.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
of some sort; I've seen
pictures of bluebirds

20:13.900 --> 20:16.266 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
and swallows eating
even small snakes.

20:16.266 --> 20:18.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Then all that energy gets
transferred to the swallow,

20:18.800 --> 20:21.566 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
and then maybe that swallow's
picked off by a Cooper's hawk

20:21.566 --> 20:24.000 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
up at near the top
of our ecosystems.

20:24.000 --> 20:28.966 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
Even the biggest snakes we
have here, like a gopher snake

20:28.966 --> 20:30.966 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
is not quite gonna
make it all the way up

20:30.966 --> 20:33.966 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
to that apex predator position
in our ecosystems

20:33.966 --> 20:36.200 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
at the very top of this
trophic pyramid,

20:36.200 --> 20:40.000 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
'cause there are larger
avian bird predators

20:40.000 --> 20:43.700 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
like eagles and hawks,
and then also canids

20:43.700 --> 20:46.366 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
like coyotes, foxes, wolves

20:46.366 --> 20:48.100 align:left position:32.5% line:71% size:57.5%
that will also
happily eat snakes.

20:48.100 --> 20:50.133 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
And so snakes play this
really important role

20:50.133 --> 20:53.633 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
in the transfer of energy
from our lower trophic levels,

20:53.633 --> 20:58.633 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
plants and herbivores, up to
our higher order carnivores.

20:59.633 --> 21:01.966 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
And so what's what's
really important about this

21:01.966 --> 21:04.833 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
is snakes sort of change
how the energy flows

21:04.833 --> 21:08.600 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
when compared to organisms
at similar levels.

21:08.600 --> 21:12.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
Like if you think about a shrew,
shrew also likes eating slugs.

21:12.000 --> 21:14.266 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
Think about robins,
robins like eating worms

21:14.266 --> 21:16.133 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
and slugs as well.

21:16.133 --> 21:20.133 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
The snake, its metabolism is
structured really differently

21:20.133 --> 21:21.633 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
than those two other animals,

21:21.633 --> 21:23.933 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
and so it's actually gonna
be much more efficient

21:23.933 --> 21:27.566 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
in the amount of energy that
it maintains from what it eats.

21:27.566 --> 21:31.666 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
&nbsp;
And so I have this
graph here that shows

21:31.666 --> 21:34.366 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
the difference in metabolism
between an American robin,

21:34.366 --> 21:37.166 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
a northern short-tailed shrew,
and the common garter snake.

21:37.166 --> 21:38.500 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
We can think of metabolic rates

21:38.500 --> 21:42.033 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
sort of like fuel efficiency,
so if you think like,

21:42.033 --> 21:45.900 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
the American robin's flying all
over the place in an airplane.

21:45.900 --> 21:47.433 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
That's not very fuel efficient.

21:47.433 --> 21:50.333 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
Northern short-tailed shrew's
kind of like the sports car

21:50.333 --> 21:52.200 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5%
of the prairie;
they're super high energy,

21:52.200 --> 21:53.633 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
always running around.

21:53.633 --> 21:57.733 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
The common garter snake is
very, very, very fuel efficient

21:57.733 --> 22:00.166 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
compared to these other animals.

22:00.166 --> 22:02.566 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
It uses less than 10%
of the energy

22:02.566 --> 22:06.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
just to maintain its metabolism
because it's ectothermic.

22:06.066 --> 22:08.200 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
It doesn't need to create heat
on its own.

22:08.200 --> 22:10.400 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
It just takes it in
from the environment

22:10.400 --> 22:12.966 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
so it doesn't have to burn
as much energy

22:12.966 --> 22:17.000 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
to maintain a high temperature
like robins and shrews do.

22:17.000 --> 22:19.100 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
And so this means
that snakes can exist

22:19.100 --> 22:21.400 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
at really high abundances
in our ecosystems

22:21.400 --> 22:26.166 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
in those mid tiers,
and they hold on

22:26.166 --> 22:28.300 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
to more of that energy
as biomass.

22:28.300 --> 22:30.133 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
They just incorporate it
into themselves.

22:30.133 --> 22:33.133 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
The more a snake eats,
the longer it grows.

22:33.133 --> 22:36.033 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
It doesn't burn as much of that
just to stay alive,

22:36.033 --> 22:38.366 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
so they are a much more
efficient way

22:38.366 --> 22:40.233 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
to transfer energy up
through our ecosystems,

22:40.233 --> 22:43.233 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
and that benefits our predators
up at the top

22:43.233 --> 22:45.700 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
who have a more reliable
food source.

22:47.433 --> 22:49.466 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
When we think about how
ecosystems function,

22:49.466 --> 22:52.566 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
that brings us into ideas
of restoration ecology,

22:52.566 --> 22:56.333 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
'cause our urban environments
are encroaching upon habitats

22:56.333 --> 23:00.533 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
that snakes used to live in, and
this is a problem for snakes,

23:00.533 --> 23:02.966 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
though we also have
in our urban spaces

23:02.966 --> 23:07.100 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
lots of parks and restorations
that are doing an incredible job

23:07.100 --> 23:11.033 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
of rewilding all
of our otherwise

23:11.033 --> 23:16.033 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
really impervious glass and
steel sorts of urban landscapes.

23:16.033 --> 23:18.966 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
So I wanna say here that

23:18.966 --> 23:23.066 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
while we're destroying a lot
of habitat around the world

23:23.066 --> 23:25.733 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
that snakes really enjoy,
we do have the opportunity

23:25.733 --> 23:28.033 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
to make our urban spaces
relevant

23:28.033 --> 23:30.233 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
with these sorts
of restorations,

23:30.233 --> 23:32.766 align:left position:32.5% line:5% size:57.5%
having all the
ecological compartments

23:32.766 --> 23:34.800 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
that these snakes
need to survive.

23:34.800 --> 23:38.200 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
But still, our urban
environments pose this issue

23:38.200 --> 23:39.766 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
of fragmentation.

23:39.766 --> 23:41.533 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
So when there are roads,

23:41.533 --> 23:45.033 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
other sorts of infrastructure,
snakes can't fly,

23:45.033 --> 23:47.866 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
they can't run like mammals,
they often don't look both ways

23:47.866 --> 23:49.966 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
when they're crossing a road
like we do.

23:49.966 --> 23:52.633 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
A snake in a road is more likely

23:52.633 --> 23:54.933 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
to try and pretend
to be a rattlesnake,

23:54.933 --> 23:57.000 align:left position:32.5% line:71% size:57.5%
and that means
they're gonna curl up,

23:57.000 --> 23:59.500 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
puff themselves out,
and stare down your SUV

23:59.500 --> 24:02.166 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
as you drive it over instead
of running out of the way

24:02.166 --> 24:04.466 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
like a sensible human would do.

24:04.466 --> 24:08.600 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
So there are also many other
perils that snakes have.

24:08.600 --> 24:11.600 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
In addition to roads,
pollutants will magnify

24:11.600 --> 24:14.000 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
throughout an ecosystem
'cause snakes are predators,

24:14.000 --> 24:17.033 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
so the more prey that they eat,
if there's a small dose

24:17.033 --> 24:20.333 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
of pesticide in each mouse
a snake eats,

24:20.333 --> 24:22.833 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
the snake is gonna accumulate
all of those pesticides

24:22.833 --> 24:24.200 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
over the course of its life,

24:24.200 --> 24:28.033 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
'cause pesticides
don't often degrade.

24:28.033 --> 24:29.833 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
We talk about that
a lot with PFAS now

24:29.833 --> 24:31.566 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
or other sort of
industrial pollutants,

24:31.566 --> 24:35.533 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
along with the pesticides
you'll spray on your lawn.

24:35.533 --> 24:38.466 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
Also, domestic and feral animals
are unfortunately

24:38.466 --> 24:40.366 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
a big source of snake mortality.

24:40.366 --> 24:43.166 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
Cats will eat birds,
but they'll also,

24:43.166 --> 24:45.000 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
well, yeah, more
like play with birds,

24:45.000 --> 24:46.533 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
they'll just as likely
play with snakes.

24:46.533 --> 24:48.533 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
Maybe bring you a present
every once in a while.

24:48.533 --> 24:50.333 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
I'm sure a couple of you
have stories about

24:50.333 --> 24:53.733 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
snakes being brought to you
as presents by your cats.

24:53.733 --> 24:57.533 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
Also, human hostility is still
a really big issue.

24:57.533 --> 24:59.833 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
People like Carl Linnaeus
are still out there

24:59.833 --> 25:02.866 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
that are going out and
spitting these horrible things

25:02.866 --> 25:05.233 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
about snakes, as well
as sometimes

25:05.233 --> 25:06.866 align:left position:32.5% line:5% size:57.5%
being motivated
enough to kill them.

25:06.866 --> 25:11.166 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
Oftentimes that could be a
result of mistaken identity.

25:11.166 --> 25:13.400 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
If you think something's
a rattlesnake,

25:13.400 --> 25:16.333 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
you fear for your life,
and that's understandable.

25:16.333 --> 25:19.766 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
But I hope that after this
talk, we can have a better idea

25:19.766 --> 25:22.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
of the different sorts of snakes
we have around here

25:22.666 --> 25:24.500 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
and that most of them
are harmless.

25:24.500 --> 25:27.566 align:left position:32.5% line:71% size:57.5%
99% of the time
you encounter a snake,

25:27.566 --> 25:29.200 align:left position:35% line:71% size:55%
it's gonna be
perfectly harmless,

25:29.200 --> 25:32.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
it's gonna be more afraid of you
than you are of it,

25:32.800 --> 25:34.766 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
so keep that in mind.

25:34.766 --> 25:37.133 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
Urban snakes, as a result
of all of this,

25:37.133 --> 25:40.533 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
they face reduced mobility
and increased mortality.

25:41.533 --> 25:43.033 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
So we think about all of that.

25:43.033 --> 25:46.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The DNR again has these
wonderful range maps.

25:46.033 --> 25:48.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
We have a picture here
of the plains garter snake.

25:49.033 --> 25:51.866 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
And the plains garter snake,
according to the DNR,

25:51.866 --> 25:54.233 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
exists in these counties
shaded in blue.

25:54.233 --> 25:56.200 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5%
It has been reported there.

25:56.200 --> 25:59.833 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
That's awesome, but if we think
about more on a local scale,

25:59.833 --> 26:02.366 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
if you're a land manager at
a preserve or if you're just

26:02.366 --> 26:04.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
a homeowner and you're
thinking about your backyard,

26:04.400 --> 26:07.566 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
my backyard's in Dane County,
the plains garter snake's

26:07.566 --> 26:08.866 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
supposed to be in Dane County.

26:08.866 --> 26:11.500 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Does that mean that the
plains garter snake may,

26:11.500 --> 26:13.866 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
a few of them might wander
through my backyard one day?

26:14.866 --> 26:18.033 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
That's a great question; this
is a question that I've asked

26:18.033 --> 26:20.433 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
with the UW Lakeshore
Nature Preserve in Madison.

26:20.433 --> 26:22.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The UW Lakeshore Nature
Preserve is relevant,

26:22.933 --> 26:25.900 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
it has all of these
ecological niches

26:25.900 --> 26:27.300 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
that snakes could really fill.

26:27.300 --> 26:30.100 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
There are plenty of rodents,
there's plenty of amphibians,

26:30.100 --> 26:32.433 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
there's plenty of invertebrates
that snakes could eat.

26:32.433 --> 26:35.600 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
There's a beautiful
prairie restoration here,

26:35.600 --> 26:38.233 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
lots of forest along
with lots of wetland

26:38.233 --> 26:40.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and lots of interfaces
between those things

26:40.166 --> 26:42.800 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
that snakes really
love to exploit,

26:42.800 --> 26:45.600 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
but we have to remember that
this Lakeshore Nature Preserve

26:45.600 --> 26:48.233 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
is right on the Isthmus
in Madison.

26:48.233 --> 26:51.033 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55%
It's right in
downtown Madison.

26:51.033 --> 26:53.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
It exists in this really
fragmented environment

26:53.366 --> 26:55.466 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
that snakes may not
be able to traverse.

26:55.466 --> 26:57.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
It's also really perilous
because of those roads,

26:57.766 --> 27:00.600 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
because of all the people
that frequent this spot.

27:00.600 --> 27:04.633 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
Also because of all of the
feral cats and other animals,

27:04.633 --> 27:07.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and maybe there's still
even some residual pesticide

27:07.100 --> 27:08.966 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
or pesticides that
are washing off

27:08.966 --> 27:10.666 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5%
of nearby residential areas

27:10.666 --> 27:12.166 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
that are messing
with the snakes.

27:12.166 --> 27:13.966 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
So these are all questions
we have to consider

27:13.966 --> 27:16.033 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55%
when we think
at a more local scale,

27:16.033 --> 27:17.900 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
does a snake exist here or not?

27:18.900 --> 27:21.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
So that comes into the purpose
of my study

27:21.066 --> 27:24.766 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
is it's to collect
baseline population data

27:24.766 --> 27:26.900 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
for different prairie
restorations around Madison,

27:26.900 --> 27:29.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and at that local scale,
that we don't quite have

27:29.666 --> 27:32.166 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5%
the resolution of data yet.

27:32.166 --> 27:35.666 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
So I went about doing that
using cover boards.

27:35.666 --> 27:37.566 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
And in herpetological speak,

27:37.566 --> 27:39.833 align:left position:32.5% line:71% size:57.5%
they're called
artificial cover objects.

27:39.833 --> 27:42.266 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
I just call them boards.

27:42.266 --> 27:44.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Snakes use cover boards
for two main reasons.

27:44.566 --> 27:47.400 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
The first is because
as we talked about earlier,

27:47.400 --> 27:50.266 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
they are both predators
but also prey,

27:50.266 --> 27:52.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
so they have plenty that
they wanna hide from.

27:52.366 --> 27:54.366 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
Snakes are generally
really timid creatures,

27:54.366 --> 27:57.333 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
so finding a board to hide under
is a great place

27:57.333 --> 27:58.500 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
for them to be.

27:59.766 --> 28:01.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Another thing we talked
about earlier as well

28:01.600 --> 28:04.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
is snakes are ectothermic
or cold-blooded,

28:04.666 --> 28:07.600 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
and so they really
like to find places

28:07.600 --> 28:09.466 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
that are a suitable
temperature for them.

28:09.466 --> 28:13.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Also, many times, a place
where the temperature is stable

28:13.066 --> 28:16.800 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
and controlled, and so these
boards, after soaking up heat

28:16.800 --> 28:20.533 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
throughout the day, provide
the snakes a really nice, warm,

28:20.533 --> 28:24.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
safe place to hide out,
and so this is why many of you

28:24.400 --> 28:26.500 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
have probably found snakes
flipping over objects

28:26.500 --> 28:28.233 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
in your yards or other places.

28:28.233 --> 28:30.266 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
It's the same principle.

28:30.266 --> 28:33.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
And so I had to reach out
to my brother.

28:33.100 --> 28:35.333 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
He happened to work at
Bliffert Hardware and Lumber

28:35.333 --> 28:39.033 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
in Milwaukee, and I was like,
"Hey, Nate, I need some boards."

28:39.033 --> 28:40.966 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
And he was like,
"Oh, well, awesome,

28:40.966 --> 28:43.100 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
Will, we got those,
how many do you need?"

28:43.100 --> 28:46.266 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
And I was like, "Yeah,
Nate, how about about 50?"

28:46.266 --> 28:49.533 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
He was like, "Gosh, man,
are you building a house?"

28:49.533 --> 28:52.733 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
I was like, "No, I'm just
gonna go lay all these boards

28:52.733 --> 28:54.333 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
out in a field."

28:54.333 --> 28:57.000 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
And they gave me a lot of
weird looks at the lumber yard.

28:57.000 --> 29:00.933 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
But I got the boards, thanks to
Bliffert Hardware and Lumber.

29:00.933 --> 29:03.533 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
I threw 'em all out in a
bunch of different fields,

29:03.533 --> 29:05.533 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
these prairie restorations
around Madison,

29:05.533 --> 29:08.200 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
and then I biked around, looking
for snakes underneath them.

29:08.200 --> 29:10.200 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
I had to let them weather
for a few weeks.

29:10.200 --> 29:14.333 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
I somehow broke the
pedal crank on my bike

29:14.333 --> 29:15.966 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
doing that; another mystery.

29:17.066 --> 29:19.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
But once I found snakes,
I processed them,

29:19.400 --> 29:21.466 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
I identified them to species,
I weighed them,

29:21.466 --> 29:24.300 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
I measured them,
and I also just took note

29:24.300 --> 29:27.400 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5%
of what snakes
I was finding where.

29:27.400 --> 29:31.266 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
So here is a map of all of
the sites that I surveyed at,

29:31.266 --> 29:35.333 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and while we're looking at this
overview of Madison,

29:35.333 --> 29:38.266 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
I want to take a note here
to say that this land

29:38.266 --> 29:40.700 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
has only recently
been called Madison,

29:40.700 --> 29:43.300 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
and by the Ho-Chunk people,
this land has been called

29:43.300 --> 29:45.666 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
Teejop since time immemorial.

29:45.666 --> 29:49.166 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
And despite the U.S. government

29:49.166 --> 29:52.633 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
spending decades unsuccessfully
of ethnic cleansing,

29:52.633 --> 29:55.033 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
trying to remove the Ho-Chunk
people from this land,

29:55.033 --> 29:57.400 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
they still remain here today.

29:57.400 --> 30:00.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
And this history of colonization

30:00.100 --> 30:02.133 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
should inform our understanding
of this area,

30:02.133 --> 30:06.066 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
this land, both in the past,
the present, and the future.

30:06.066 --> 30:08.466 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
And I also need to say here
that the Ho-Chunk people

30:08.466 --> 30:12.733 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
and the other First Nations
people of Wisconsin,

30:12.733 --> 30:15.000 align:left position:32.5% line:71% size:57.5%
they have many
of their own stories

30:15.000 --> 30:18.433 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
and knowledge and understandings
about snakes

30:18.433 --> 30:21.433 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
that really foster their
own sorts of respect

30:21.433 --> 30:23.266 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
for these animals,
that I can't speak to,

30:23.266 --> 30:25.966 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
but I want to acknowledge here
as well.

30:25.966 --> 30:29.033 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
So these are the sites
on this land

30:29.033 --> 30:31.633 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
that I was looking
for snakes in 2021.

30:31.633 --> 30:35.533 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
And as you can see,
I have these 10 board arrays

30:35.533 --> 30:38.633 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
at each site, and I checked
each of these 10 board arrays

30:38.633 --> 30:41.833 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
10 times, and this is an example
of standardization.

30:41.833 --> 30:43.633 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
I'm trying to standardize
the amount of effort

30:43.633 --> 30:46.900 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
I'm spending at each site
so then I can make comparisons

30:46.900 --> 30:50.366 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
between those sites
about what snakes I find.

30:50.366 --> 30:52.533 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
So let's take a look at
some of those results.

30:52.533 --> 30:55.533 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
I encountered over
140 different snakes,

30:55.533 --> 31:00.433 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
and this, I say encounters
because I can't quite say

31:00.433 --> 31:03.466 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
that I encountered
140 individual snakes

31:03.466 --> 31:05.466 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
'cause I didn't mark
any of these snakes.

31:05.466 --> 31:10.466 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
So if I had encountered the
same snake one or two times,

31:10.466 --> 31:12.466 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
it would be tough to tell,
unless that snake

31:12.466 --> 31:15.433 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
had some individual birthmarks,
which a few of them did.

31:15.433 --> 31:17.700 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
But because I wasn't
marking recapturing,

31:17.700 --> 31:19.766 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
I used this unit of encounters.

31:19.766 --> 31:21.366 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
So 140 snake encounters,

31:21.366 --> 31:23.766 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
likely over a hundred
individual snakes,

31:23.766 --> 31:26.033 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
based on previous studies.

31:26.033 --> 31:30.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
But as you can see here, I have
a lot of data on this slide.

31:30.066 --> 31:32.066 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
What I want you to take away
from this though

31:32.066 --> 31:35.200 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
is that I didn't find snakes
at every site.

31:35.200 --> 31:37.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Didn't find snakes at the
Lakeshore Nature Preserve.

31:37.333 --> 31:42.666 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
I also didn't find one snake
at every site I found snakes.

31:42.666 --> 31:46.533 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
There's this heterogeneity
or difference between sites

31:46.533 --> 31:49.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
of what snakes were there
and also in what abundances

31:49.366 --> 31:52.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
I found them, which sort
of alludes to these ideas

31:52.800 --> 31:54.833 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
of how fragmented
our urban environments are.

31:54.833 --> 31:57.066 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
And maybe snakes can't,
even if they have

31:57.066 --> 31:59.533 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
a neighboring restoration
just down the street,

31:59.533 --> 32:03.200 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
maybe they can't cross the
street to actually get there.

32:03.200 --> 32:04.733 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
So we're gonna zoom in now

32:04.733 --> 32:07.500 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
on some of the individual
species I found,

32:07.500 --> 32:09.733 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
the first one being the
DeKay's brown snake.

32:09.733 --> 32:13.500 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
&nbsp;
These brown snakes are
a gardener's friend.

32:13.500 --> 32:15.633 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
They're found all
over the place,

32:15.633 --> 32:17.666 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
found them widely
throughout Madison.

32:17.666 --> 32:21.600 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
They're small, secretive snakes
and they love eating slugs.

32:21.600 --> 32:24.766 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
I've been talking about slugs
a lot already on this talk.

32:24.766 --> 32:26.766 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5%
But they love eating slugs,

32:26.766 --> 32:29.466 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
and if slugs aren't
being eaten by snakes,

32:29.466 --> 32:31.633 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
you all know what the slugs
would otherwise be doing.

32:31.633 --> 32:33.233 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
They'd be munching
on your vegetables

32:33.233 --> 32:36.766 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
or munching on your mushrooms,
if you're growing mushrooms,

32:36.766 --> 32:39.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
munching on the greens
in your garden.

32:39.400 --> 32:41.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
If you have brown snakes
instead,

32:41.300 --> 32:45.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
those slugs are gonna be
munched on by these snakes.

32:45.000 --> 32:46.900 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
And what's really cool about
the DeKay's brown snake

32:46.900 --> 32:49.700 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
is that they're really
tenacious urban survivors.

32:49.700 --> 32:55.366 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
They are small snakes;
if there's a small plot

32:55.366 --> 32:57.966 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
where they can find cover
and they can find slugs,

32:57.966 --> 32:59.433 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
they're going to be happy.

32:59.433 --> 33:02.000 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
And again, they're really
social or communable,

33:02.000 --> 33:05.866 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
so there can be high population
densities of these snakes

33:05.866 --> 33:08.666 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
in very small places 'cause they
get along well with each other,

33:08.666 --> 33:11.266 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
and as long as there are plenty
of slugs, they're good to go.

33:11.266 --> 33:14.400 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
So this is a great snake
to have in your backyard.

33:14.400 --> 33:17.800 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
They love cover, so again,
if you can have rock walls

33:17.800 --> 33:21.833 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
or retention areas, piles
of brush, piles of wood,

33:21.833 --> 33:24.300 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
these snakes are going
to love your property.

33:25.300 --> 33:28.000 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
&nbsp;
The red-bellied snake
is very closely related

33:28.000 --> 33:29.166 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5%
to the DeKay's brown snake.

33:29.166 --> 33:31.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
It's another fantastic
garden snake.

33:31.000 --> 33:35.366 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
These snakes like it a
little bit colder and wetter.

33:35.366 --> 33:38.633 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5%
They're more of
a forest species,

33:38.633 --> 33:41.066 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
but again, they love eating
all sorts of invertebrates

33:41.066 --> 33:44.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that would otherwise be
chewing on your crops.

33:44.033 --> 33:47.166 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
Recently they've been
studied in the UW Arboretum

33:47.166 --> 33:50.433 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
as a potential check on a lot
of invasive invertebrates

33:50.433 --> 33:53.000 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
that have come into the state
recently.

33:53.000 --> 33:55.833 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
They don't eat the jumping worms
that have recently

33:55.833 --> 33:58.200 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
been kind of a big thing
in Wisconsin,

33:58.200 --> 33:59.700 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
moving across the state.

33:59.700 --> 34:02.200 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
The common garter snake are
much more likely to eat those,

34:02.200 --> 34:03.866 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
but we'll get into
that in a second.

34:03.866 --> 34:07.700 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
But the storeria
occipitomaculata

34:07.700 --> 34:08.866 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
is the Latin name.

34:08.866 --> 34:11.200 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
The red-bellied snake;
they eat tons of slugs,

34:11.200 --> 34:14.433 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
lots of invasive slugs as well,
and this was a result

34:14.433 --> 34:17.800 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
of a study done by Aaron Crone
in the Arboretum in 2022.

34:17.800 --> 34:20.433 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
And like I said, they're more
of a forest-dwelling species,

34:20.433 --> 34:22.233 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
so moister, shadier places

34:22.233 --> 34:24.100 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
where they ruffle
through the leaf litter

34:24.100 --> 34:28.300 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
to find all sorts of yummy,
tasty, gooey critters.

34:29.700 --> 34:34.566 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
&nbsp;
The eastern milk snake;
this snake is red and white

34:34.566 --> 34:36.933 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
and associated with dairy farms.

34:36.933 --> 34:39.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
This is the most Wisconsin snake
we have in Wisconsin.

34:39.800 --> 34:44.566 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
It really likes farms and it's
been associated with cows.

34:44.566 --> 34:47.200 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
There's an old wives' tale
that it would milk cows,

34:47.200 --> 34:49.800 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
and that's where
its name comes from.

34:49.800 --> 34:52.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
It doesn't milk cows, but
it likes to be around barns

34:52.833 --> 34:55.833 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
because the rocky foundations
of those buildings are used

34:55.833 --> 34:58.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
as hibernacula or places
where the snake can survive

34:58.266 --> 35:00.633 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
over the winter,
and there are lots of rodents

35:00.633 --> 35:02.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that also like to live
around barns,

35:02.200 --> 35:05.666 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
and these milk snakes do get
big enough to feed on rodents.

35:05.666 --> 35:08.666 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
They also really like
eating other snakes.

35:08.666 --> 35:11.566 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
They're a snake hunter,
the genus Lampropeltis.

35:11.566 --> 35:14.733 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
They're called kingsnakes,
and so they hunt

35:14.733 --> 35:17.333 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
and eat other snakes, and this
is a really cool example

35:17.333 --> 35:21.000 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
of we could have multiple levels
of of meso predation,

35:21.000 --> 35:24.900 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
or predators that will eat
other predators in an ecosystem,

35:24.900 --> 35:27.533 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
and that's what we see
here with the milk snake.

35:27.533 --> 35:30.000 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
The milk snake would happily
eat lots of brown snakes

35:30.000 --> 35:33.333 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
and red-bellied snakes
and other smaller species.

35:33.333 --> 35:35.233 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
And in the place where
I found these snakes,

35:35.233 --> 35:39.133 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
there were abundant populations
of those other species of snake.

35:39.133 --> 35:42.466 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
Also sort of a flashback to the
beginning of this presentation,

35:42.466 --> 35:45.333 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
they can look a lot
like a coral snake.

35:45.333 --> 35:48.066 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
Not really in Wisconsin; you're
gonna see most of the coloration

35:48.066 --> 35:50.966 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
down at the bottom there
here in Wisconsin.

35:50.966 --> 35:52.633 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
But in other parts
of the country,

35:52.633 --> 35:56.433 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
they can look more
like that on the right.

35:56.433 --> 35:59.700 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
These coral snakes
are super venomous,

36:00.933 --> 36:02.600 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
so you don't wanna
mess with those,

36:02.600 --> 36:06.000 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
but here, don't have to worry
about coral snakes.

36:06.000 --> 36:07.833 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
They do not exist in this state.

36:08.833 --> 36:11.733 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
The common garter snake is
another super common species,

36:11.733 --> 36:12.966 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
as in the name.

36:12.966 --> 36:14.633 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
They have a really wide diet,

36:14.633 --> 36:17.600 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and they're also really adapted
to the cold weather

36:17.600 --> 36:19.900 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5%
we have here in Wisconsin.

36:19.900 --> 36:21.766 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5%
And like I was
talking about earlier,

36:21.766 --> 36:23.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
a lot of that has to do
with their social behavior.

36:23.966 --> 36:28.233 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
They overwinter in these
really large communal groups.

36:28.233 --> 36:31.233 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
They also have lots of
interesting proteins

36:31.233 --> 36:34.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
in their bodies that allow them
to freeze nearly solid

36:34.233 --> 36:37.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and then still survive,
only for short periods.

36:37.433 --> 36:40.333 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
And they're also one
of the most studied snakes

36:40.333 --> 36:41.933 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
because they're so common

36:41.933 --> 36:44.833 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
because they're found at these
northern latitudes.

36:44.833 --> 36:47.366 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
I cited the study there,
Skinner and Miller in 2020,

36:47.366 --> 36:49.000 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
where they discovered
that these snakes

36:49.000 --> 36:51.133 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
may actually form friendships.

36:51.133 --> 36:53.266 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
Another really cool thing
about the common garter snake

36:53.266 --> 36:56.233 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
is that there's often
confusion between like

36:56.233 --> 36:59.400 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
what venomous means versus
what poisonous means,

36:59.400 --> 37:00.866 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
and these snakes
are a great example

37:00.866 --> 37:02.333 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
of how to distinguish the two.

37:02.333 --> 37:07.666 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
So garter snakes eat a lot of
amphibians that are poisonous.

37:07.666 --> 37:11.466 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
So newts and toads and other
amphibians generate toxins

37:11.466 --> 37:15.000 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
in their bodies that
they don't inject

37:15.000 --> 37:17.500 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
when they bite you;
it's just part of their tissues

37:17.500 --> 37:18.933 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
that makes them less appetizing.

37:18.933 --> 37:21.833 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
Just like if someone
prepares your sushi wrong,

37:21.833 --> 37:23.800 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
that could be poisonous to you.

37:23.800 --> 37:26.833 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
But the common garter snake
also, to hunt these amphibians,

37:26.833 --> 37:29.600 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
actually does have
some venom of its own,

37:29.600 --> 37:32.800 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
venom that it will then
when it's hunting these critters

37:32.800 --> 37:34.466 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
inject into them with its bite.

37:34.466 --> 37:35.900 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
As it's sort of chewing on them

37:35.900 --> 37:38.666 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
and swallowing them whole,
it has these fangs

37:38.666 --> 37:40.233 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
in the far back of its mouth

37:40.233 --> 37:43.333 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
that it'll inject
some toxin into them.

37:43.333 --> 37:45.333 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
Again, this is not something
we have to worry about

37:45.333 --> 37:47.133 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
as humans 'cause a garter snake
is never like,

37:47.133 --> 37:49.700 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
trying to swallow us
like it would a toad.

37:49.700 --> 37:51.233 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
But the common garter snake then

37:51.233 --> 37:53.733 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
can actually incorporate
some of the poisons

37:53.733 --> 37:55.466 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
from its prey into its own body,

37:55.466 --> 37:58.400 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
so it can be venomous
and poisonous at the same time.

37:58.400 --> 38:01.666 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
Venomous to its prey
and poisonous to its predators.

38:01.666 --> 38:05.200 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
So a hawk flying over
might find a common garter snake

38:05.200 --> 38:08.433 align:left position:32.5% line:71% size:57.5%
less palatable
than it would otherwise,

38:08.433 --> 38:12.700 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
so lots of cool adaptations here
from the common garter snake.

38:12.700 --> 38:15.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
&nbsp;
The plains garter snake
is very similar

38:15.000 --> 38:16.166 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5%
to the common garter snake.

38:16.166 --> 38:18.433 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
It's a species of
special concern, however,

38:18.433 --> 38:21.433 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
in the state because it's
not found nearly as widely.

38:21.433 --> 38:25.200 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
It's on the far eastern edge
of its range here in Wisconsin.

38:25.200 --> 38:28.466 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
It's more of a Great Plains
species, as in the name.

38:28.466 --> 38:30.900 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
I did detect it at one site
around Madison,

38:30.900 --> 38:34.466 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
and this site was a historic,
high lime goat prairie.

38:34.466 --> 38:38.400 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
That means that this prairie
was on an old limestone deposit,

38:38.400 --> 38:41.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
super steep, and because
it was so steep,

38:41.066 --> 38:42.566 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
only goats could
ever graze on it,

38:42.566 --> 38:44.433 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
so it's called a goat prairie.

38:44.433 --> 38:47.433 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
And it's also this limestone
deposit that can't really,

38:47.433 --> 38:50.133 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
'cause of the slope, it can't
hold onto a lot of soil.

38:50.133 --> 38:53.366 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5%
So the soil level is thin,
less moisture is held then

38:53.366 --> 38:55.233 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5%
by a thinner layer of soil,

38:55.233 --> 38:57.466 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
and that leads to a
drier prairie ecosystem,

38:57.466 --> 38:59.766 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
more like what we see
on the Great Plains.

38:59.766 --> 39:01.733 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
So this plains garter snake,

39:01.733 --> 39:04.466 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
there are lots of these plains
garter snakes in this drier,

39:04.466 --> 39:07.933 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
more Great Plains-like prairie,
and that seems to explain

39:07.933 --> 39:09.966 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
why maybe this is the
one site around Madison

39:09.966 --> 39:12.100 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
that I was able to
find these snakes.

39:12.100 --> 39:14.933 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
But yeah, like I said,
they like it hotter and drier

39:14.933 --> 39:18.233 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
relatively to what the common
garter snake would like,

39:18.233 --> 39:20.033 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
'cause they're really
similar otherwise.

39:20.033 --> 39:22.866 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
Usually, species distinguish
themselves from each other

39:22.866 --> 39:26.800 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
in the same ecosystem
into sorts of food niches.

39:26.800 --> 39:29.266 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
So if we think about birds,
the American robin,

39:29.266 --> 39:32.333 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
Wisconsin's state bird
really likes eating worms.

39:32.333 --> 39:35.733 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
Think about another bird,
the house sparrow,

39:35.733 --> 39:38.500 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
really likes eating
your fries outside

39:38.500 --> 39:40.733 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
at the Union Terrace in Madison.

39:40.733 --> 39:42.366 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
They don't really
compete with each other

39:42.366 --> 39:45.100 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
for those food sources,
but the common garter snake

39:45.100 --> 39:48.200 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
and the plains garter snake
both eat mostly the same things.

39:48.200 --> 39:51.266 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
They both are very similar
animals, except for the fact

39:51.266 --> 39:55.166 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
that they differentiate their
behavioral patterns thermally.

39:55.166 --> 39:57.666 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
So the plains garter snake
in the same place

39:57.666 --> 40:00.533 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
is gonna be active at hotter
and drier times of day

40:00.533 --> 40:02.000 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
than the common garter snake,

40:02.000 --> 40:05.200 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
so they can coexist in these
patterns that oscillate

40:05.200 --> 40:08.166 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
and then complement each other,
which is super cool.

40:09.166 --> 40:13.333 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
So I was often approached
by people as I was out

40:13.333 --> 40:15.133 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
in the field looking
for snakes and be like,

40:15.133 --> 40:18.266 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
"Hey you, crazy snake guy out
in the middle of the field,

40:18.266 --> 40:20.633 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
do you ever find any
gardener snakes?"

40:20.633 --> 40:24.033 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
And I would have to
take a breath and think,

40:24.033 --> 40:27.966 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
"Okay, yes, well,
the truth is that

40:27.966 --> 40:29.566 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
"they aren't called
gardener snakes,

40:29.566 --> 40:31.500 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
"they're called garter snakes,

40:31.500 --> 40:32.866 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
"and they're called
garter snakes

40:32.866 --> 40:35.266 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
"because the people who
originally named them

40:35.266 --> 40:36.866 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
"back however long ago

40:36.866 --> 40:39.133 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
"thought that the stripes
on them looked like garters,

40:39.133 --> 40:42.433 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
a piece of clothing that
we don't really use anymore."

40:42.433 --> 40:46.200 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
And so I always struggle
to explain that to people

40:46.200 --> 40:48.233 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
'cause I really do like
the name gardener snake.

40:48.233 --> 40:50.200 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
I think people encounter them
while they're gardening,

40:50.200 --> 40:52.666 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
they're a fantastic snake
to have in your garden.

40:53.666 --> 40:58.000 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
But the truth is their name
is garter instead of gardener,

40:58.000 --> 41:00.900 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
&nbsp;
but there is
something to that name

41:00.900 --> 41:02.266 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
when you're trying
to distinguish

41:02.266 --> 41:03.633 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
these two species apart,

41:03.633 --> 41:06.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
the common garter snake
and the plains garter snake.

41:06.633 --> 41:09.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The truth is, you have
to look at those stripes.

41:09.033 --> 41:11.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The common garter snake,
the stripe is on the second

41:11.666 --> 41:14.066 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
and third scales
up from its belly.

41:14.066 --> 41:15.266 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
The plains garter snake,

41:15.266 --> 41:17.500 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
the stripe is in the
third and fourth scales

41:17.500 --> 41:20.133 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
up from its belly,
a yellow stripe.

41:20.133 --> 41:22.833 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
The butler's garter snake
is another species we have.

41:22.833 --> 41:24.400 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
It makes things a
little more complicated.

41:24.400 --> 41:27.433 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
It's the second half of the
second scale into the third,

41:27.433 --> 41:30.433 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
and sometimes the fourth scale
up from the belly.

41:30.433 --> 41:33.966 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
We're gonna ignore that now
for the sake of this quiz

41:33.966 --> 41:36.666 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
to see how much you're
able to distinguish

41:36.666 --> 41:40.900 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
both the common and the plains
garter snake by these criteria.

41:40.900 --> 41:43.100 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
So let's get started;
again, to remind you,

41:43.100 --> 41:45.066 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
the common garter snake,
the stripe is the second

41:45.066 --> 41:46.833 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
and third scales
up from the belly.

41:46.833 --> 41:48.666 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
Plains garter snake,
third and fourth scales.

41:48.666 --> 41:50.266 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
Let's orient each other here.

41:50.266 --> 41:53.866 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
We have the belly scales at the
bottom of the slide here.

41:53.866 --> 41:56.133 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
Then up from that we have
the first red circle,

41:56.133 --> 41:58.133 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
that's the first
lateral scale row.

41:58.133 --> 42:00.133 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
Up again, a second
lateral scale row,

42:00.133 --> 42:03.600 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
third lateral scale row,
what do we think here?

42:03.600 --> 42:06.100 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
The stripe looks to be in the
second and third scales up,

42:06.100 --> 42:08.866 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
so this here is a
common garter snake.

42:08.866 --> 42:10.600 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
Let's try this again.

42:10.600 --> 42:12.066 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
What about this snake?

42:12.066 --> 42:15.233 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
Belly scales, first circle
there is the first scale row,

42:15.233 --> 42:19.900 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
second scale row, third and
fourth scale rows up from there.

42:19.900 --> 42:21.433 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
It looks to me like this stripe

42:21.433 --> 42:24.433 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
is in the third and fourth
scale rows here.

42:24.433 --> 42:26.500 align:left position:32.5% line:5% size:57.5%
Here we have a
plains garter snake.

42:26.500 --> 42:27.866 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
Okay, this has been difficult.

42:27.866 --> 42:30.333 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
One more try for everyone.

42:30.333 --> 42:33.433 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
We got this creature right here,
it's got kind of

42:33.433 --> 42:36.233 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
a weird-looking coloration
to it, two stripes.

42:36.233 --> 42:39.266 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
Anyways, I think the
first level of scales

42:39.266 --> 42:42.866 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
is about where that circle is.

42:42.866 --> 42:45.433 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
You know what, I don't
even think this is a snake.

42:45.433 --> 42:48.766 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
This is what we call a
gardener snake or a hose.

42:48.766 --> 42:51.033 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
If you didn't know, there are
lots of these around Madison,

42:51.033 --> 42:52.200 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
especially in the summer.

42:52.200 --> 42:53.600 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
People are using them a lot.

42:53.600 --> 42:56.500 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
They don't eat slugs though;
that's one downside.

42:57.500 --> 43:01.600 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
Anyways, we're back here to
more of the results of my study.

43:01.600 --> 43:04.800 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
The Lakeshore Nature Preserve
remains a big mystery.

43:04.800 --> 43:07.066 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
This was one of the
inspirations for my study.

43:07.066 --> 43:09.200 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
People told me there
weren't snakes here.

43:09.200 --> 43:11.500 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
I said, "I'm gonna
find snakes here."

43:11.500 --> 43:13.866 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
I was wrong; I didn't
find any snakes

43:13.866 --> 43:15.333 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
at the Lakeshore
Nature Preserve,

43:15.333 --> 43:19.033 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
despite the fact that
there are over 16 species

43:19.033 --> 43:21.900 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
in Dane County that could
have been found here.

43:21.900 --> 43:24.900 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
There are only two known
confirmed sightings

43:24.900 --> 43:27.100 align:left position:32.5% line:5% size:57.5%
in the preserve
based on photo evidence,

43:27.100 --> 43:28.900 align:left position:32.5% line:5% size:57.5%
and there's an
anecdotal lack of snakes

43:28.900 --> 43:32.466 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
going back to the 1970s,
and so this remains a mystery

43:32.466 --> 43:34.966 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
why snakes may not exist here at
the Lakeshore Nature Preserve,

43:34.966 --> 43:37.033 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
whether that's because
they can't get through

43:37.033 --> 43:39.933 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
the fragmented matrix
of the city of Madison

43:39.933 --> 43:42.100 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
to make it here or
for some other reason.

43:42.100 --> 43:44.300 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
Maybe there's not an
adequate hibernacula

43:44.300 --> 43:46.300 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
for them to survive the winter
at this site.

43:46.300 --> 43:48.933 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
We're still trying
to figure this out.

43:48.933 --> 43:50.566 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
Some other species
I didn't find,

43:50.566 --> 43:53.166 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
on the note of things
I couldn't find,

43:53.166 --> 43:55.200 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
a lot of larger-bodied
species of snake.

43:55.200 --> 43:57.333 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
Most of the snakes
I was talking to you about

43:57.333 --> 43:58.766 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
are not much longer than this.

43:58.766 --> 44:00.900 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
The common garter snake
can get longer,

44:00.900 --> 44:03.566 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
the eastern milk snake can
get even longer than that,

44:03.566 --> 44:06.266 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
but most of our largest
species of snake,

44:06.266 --> 44:09.800 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
including the the gopher snake,
they need larger ranges.

44:09.800 --> 44:12.100 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
&nbsp;
They move a lot more,
and in an urban area,

44:12.100 --> 44:14.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that means they're more
likely to cross a road

44:14.166 --> 44:17.400 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
or they're more likely to be
mistaken for a rattlesnake

44:17.400 --> 44:20.466 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5%
and killed, either
by pets or by people.

44:20.466 --> 44:24.000 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
So some of these species, like
the eastern hog-nosed snake,

44:24.000 --> 44:25.533 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5%
they just don't
use cover boards,

44:25.533 --> 44:27.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
so my study wasn't very
well-suited to find them.

44:27.866 --> 44:31.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The northern water snake
is an aquatic species,

44:31.333 --> 44:34.066 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
and so I wasn't expecting to
find them in prairies either.

44:34.066 --> 44:36.933 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
I was surprised that I didn't
find fox snakes, however.

44:36.933 --> 44:39.066 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
They're fairly common
throughout the state.

44:40.066 --> 44:43.500 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
So to start to wrap this talk
up, I wanna leave you all

44:43.500 --> 44:45.933 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
with some thoughts
about the role of snakes

44:45.933 --> 44:48.933 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
in restoration ecology,
and reemphasize that snakes

44:48.933 --> 44:51.000 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
are integral to our
native ecosystems.

44:51.000 --> 44:54.166 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
They're abundant,
ectothermic mesopredators.

44:54.166 --> 44:56.266 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
We'll walk through those
words again; they're abundant,

44:56.266 --> 44:59.366 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
they can exist at really
high population densities,

44:59.366 --> 45:01.933 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
even if we can't see them;
they're really secretive.

45:01.933 --> 45:03.200 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
They're also ectothermic,

45:03.200 --> 45:04.966 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
which means they're
much more efficient

45:04.966 --> 45:06.500 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
in the energy that they uptake,

45:06.500 --> 45:08.966 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
and that means that they're
transferring more energy up

45:08.966 --> 45:12.666 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
through their ecosystems,
changing how that energy flows

45:12.666 --> 45:15.766 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
and also benefiting a lot of
our higher order carnivores

45:15.766 --> 45:19.400 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
in those ecosystems as well:
birds, mammals,

45:19.400 --> 45:20.800 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
all sorts of creatures.

45:22.600 --> 45:24.000 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
And we also have to think about

45:24.000 --> 45:25.466 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
how they relate to our
urban environments.

45:25.466 --> 45:29.700 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
So a lot of times, we have these
really beautiful restorations

45:29.700 --> 45:33.066 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
or parks or preserves
in the places we live,

45:33.066 --> 45:35.500 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
whether that's in the suburbs,
in the country,

45:35.500 --> 45:36.866 align:left position:32.5% line:71% size:57.5%
or in the city.

45:36.866 --> 45:38.733 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
But we have to recognize that

45:38.733 --> 45:41.300 align:left position:32.5% line:71% size:57.5%
with how we've
habitated this land,

45:42.633 --> 45:44.700 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
pretty much every environment
is gonna be fragmented

45:44.700 --> 45:48.166 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
by roads and other sorts
of human infrastructure,

45:48.166 --> 45:50.133 align:left position:27.5% line:71% size:62.5%
and that also means
that these environments

45:50.133 --> 45:53.000 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
are perilous for snakes
because the roads obviously,

45:53.000 --> 45:55.500 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
but also from other factors
like ourselves,

45:55.500 --> 45:57.566 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
our pets, and our pesticides.

45:57.566 --> 45:59.900 align:left position:32.5% line:71% size:57.5%
So snakes face
in the world today

45:59.900 --> 46:03.133 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
reduced mobility
and increased mortality,

46:03.133 --> 46:05.233 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
so can we just assume
that they exist

46:05.233 --> 46:07.933 align:left position:25% line:71% size:65%
in our urban prairie
restorations?

46:07.933 --> 46:10.000 align:left position:30% line:71% size:60%
After working on
this last summer,

46:11.000 --> 46:12.400 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
the answer that I have is no,

46:12.400 --> 46:14.000 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
that we need to go
look for them.

46:14.000 --> 46:18.200 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
So some things that you can
do to help us look for snakes,

46:18.200 --> 46:21.000 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
report the snakes that
you find on HerpMapper,

46:21.000 --> 46:22.466 align:left position:32.5% line:5% size:57.5%
on iNaturalist.

46:22.466 --> 46:24.700 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
These are both curated
citizen science platforms

46:24.700 --> 46:27.333 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
that you can upload photos
to and people will help you

46:27.333 --> 46:30.100 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
identify them, and also
be there as a resource

46:30.100 --> 46:32.166 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5%
for people who are
looking to study snakes

46:32.166 --> 46:33.666 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
and where they exist.

46:33.666 --> 46:36.733 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
There's also the Wisconsin DNR
has a road mortality survey,

46:36.733 --> 46:38.133 align:left position:35% line:5% size:55%
so if you're
driving along a road

46:38.133 --> 46:39.933 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
and you see a dead snake
on the side

46:39.933 --> 46:44.533 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
or even another sort of animal
like a turtle or a frog,

46:44.533 --> 46:47.433 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
the DNR would love for you
to send that picture to them

46:47.433 --> 46:50.433 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
so they can continue to
improve their range maps.

46:50.433 --> 46:51.933 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
You can also learn more;

46:51.933 --> 46:53.800 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
the Partners in Amphibian
and Reptile Conservation

46:53.800 --> 46:55.466 align:left position:32.5% line:5% size:57.5%
in the Midwest
chapter specifically

46:55.466 --> 46:59.266 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
are gonna be a great place
to find more about snakes.

46:59.266 --> 47:01.966 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5%
You could also look up your
local herpetological society.

47:01.966 --> 47:03.766 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
I wanna shout out
to my friends at the

47:03.766 --> 47:05.400 align:left position:35% line:5% size:55%
Madison Area
Herpetological Society,

47:05.400 --> 47:07.366 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
who helped me tweak this talk.

47:07.366 --> 47:09.700 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
Also, the Urban Ecology Center
in Milwaukee

47:09.700 --> 47:12.300 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
is where I learned all
about snake citizen science,

47:12.300 --> 47:15.100 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
so they have a really robust
program going on there

47:15.100 --> 47:17.433 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
and other amazing work as well.

47:17.433 --> 47:20.833 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
Also, check out the Wisconsin
DNR events calendar.

47:20.833 --> 47:23.300 align:left position:22.5% line:71% size:67.5%
They have all sorts of
snake experts coming on,

47:23.300 --> 47:26.200 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5%
even giving live demonstrations
of snakes as well,

47:26.200 --> 47:29.566 align:left position:17.5% line:71% size:72.5%
and also in beautiful state
parks around the state.

47:29.566 --> 47:32.133 align:left position:15% line:71% size:75%
So definitely keep an eye on
the events calendar as well

47:32.133 --> 47:34.766 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
for snake-themed events.

47:34.766 --> 47:37.466 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
So I wanna thank everyone

47:37.466 --> 47:39.066 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
who has helped me out
with this project.

47:39.066 --> 47:40.900 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
My advisor, Professor
Catherine Woodward.

47:40.900 --> 47:42.333 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
This project was funded by the

47:42.333 --> 47:45.400 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
Holstrom Environmental Research
Grant through UW-Madison.

47:45.400 --> 47:48.233 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
And all of my other advisors,
the land managers

47:48.233 --> 47:50.066 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
and project facilitators
that helped me out,

47:50.066 --> 47:52.966 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
as well as all of my friends,
community members, and family

47:52.966 --> 47:55.333 align:left position:32.5% line:5% size:57.5%
who helped move
these boards around.

47:55.333 --> 47:58.733 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
And I also want to thank you
for tuning into this talk,

47:58.733 --> 48:00.366 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
listening about snakes.

48:00.366 --> 48:03.966 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
It's been a pleasure
to be with you tonight,

48:03.966 --> 48:05.500 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
and the more we can learn

48:05.500 --> 48:07.733 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60%
about the snakes
that live around us,

48:07.733 --> 48:10.133 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
the better we can coexist
with those snakes.

48:10.133 --> 48:12.133 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
And the better we can
coexist with snakes,

48:12.133 --> 48:14.700 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
the better the ecosystems
that we live in

48:14.700 --> 48:16.233 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
are gonna be as a whole.

48:18.000 --> 48:19.166 align:left position:37.5% line:5% size:52.5%
Thank you.