3.8 Reptiles
• Conduct distributional surveys of Longleaf Pine habitat specialists. Some of these include Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Northern Pine Snake, Southern Hognose Snake, Eastern Coachwhip, Eastern Coral Snake, and Chicken Turtle.
• Conduct surveys for aquatic or semi-aquatic species of snakes including Rainbow Snake, Black Swamp Snake, and Glossy Crayfsh Snake.
• Continue to conduct surveys on aquatic turtle species in the mountains, where rela- tively little is known about turtle assemblages compared to other parts of the state.
• Survey habitat for Timber Rattlesnakes in the mountains and Piedmont to determine overwintering locations to protect and monitor these sites.
• Conduct surveys for Diamondback Terrapins to determine where healthy populations still occur, and implement conservation eforts accordingly. • Focus survey eforts on learning more about the distribution and population status of glass lizards, both in the Coastal Plain and in the Piedmont. Monitoring. Long-term monitoring is critical to assessing species and ecosystem health over time and gauging the resilience of organisms to a changing climate. Studies should include identifcation of population trends, as well as assessment of impacts from conser- vation or development activities. Tese eforts will inform species and habitat management decisions. Long-term monitoring sites need to be identifed and monitoring protocols developed for all priority species. Monitoring plans should be coordinated with other exist- ing monitoring programs where feasible. • Monitor priority reptile species that are perceived as declining or rare, especially upland snake species such as Southern Hognose Snakes, Northern Pine Snakes, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes, and Timber Rattlesnakes.
• Continue to monitor Bog Turtle populations annually using mark-recapture and inten- sive habitat surveys.
• Continue to monitor sea turtles and Diamondback Terrapins using appropriate techniques.
• Monitor snake populations for signs of emerging diseases that could be detrimental to populations. • Continue the statewide Box Turtle Connection program, forming a long-term database of the status of the Eastern Box Turtle throughout the state.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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