INDIANA– Over 80 state-endangered Kirtland’s snakes have been successfully relocated from a small residential development lot in southern Indiana during April and May. This effort highlights how even rare wildlife species can adapt to urban environments.
The relocation project began after a concerned neighbor discovered a Kirtland’s snake in an area slated for residential housing development. Following coordination with the developer, DNR biologists began moving the snakes to a nearby nature preserve owned and managed by Sycamore Land Trust.
Adult Kirtland’s snakes are being fitted with “PIT tag” microchips, which will enable researchers to gather vital information on the snakes’ survival rates at the release site in the years to come. This initiative is part of a broader collaborative study focused on Kirtland’s snake habitat use and conservation. The project is a coordinated effort involving the DNR Herpetology Program and Sycamore Land Trust.
DNR biologists anticipate continuing the relocation of snakes from the site throughout the spring and summer months.
