Conservation News

In the heart of Memphis, the trees and trails of Overton Park have provided a refuge for locals seeking a momentary escape from city life for over a century. For far longer, the old-growth forest has been home to a host of animals, though some settle in to city life better than others. As urbanization enveloped Overton Park, squirrels, rodents, and robins remained conspicuous residents; whereas large carnivorous predators could rarely be found.

Today, a leisurely stroll through the park reveals that those robins, rodents, and squirrels clearly enjoy urban living; likely benefiting from fewer predators and greater water and energy resources associated with humans (squirrels really like fast food). However, a closer look reveals another benefactor of urbanization; a highly cryptic and formidable predator – the copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix).


	A nearly invisible adult copperhead foraging.

This venomous snake is a master of camouflage, easily blending in with the leaf litter as it glides across the surface or sits coiled, patiently waiting for prey to come within striking distance; thus providing excellent natural pest control.

A juvenile copperhead coiled and hunting

Preliminary reptile and amphibian surveys of the 15 acres of Overton Park forest on the Memphis Zoo grounds (the future home to Chickasaw Bluffs) have revealed to the surprise, and perhaps displeasure, of many that copperheads have been quite successful urban inhabitants.

Recently, the Conservation and Research Department, with the help of the herpetology staff and students from Rhodes College, have initiated a multi-year field study of these snakes to understand how copperheads have become so

successful in the city; that is, whether the abundance of prey and lack of larger predators in urban environments directly benefit these snakes.

To identify specific benefits, we will compare urban snakes on Zoo grounds to rural snakes at Ames Plantation, a rural forest about 50 miles east of the zoo. We will surgically-implant a radiotransmitter in several individuals at each location so that we can relocate them weekly to compare habitat use, movement patterns, and behaviors. Moreover, we will capture each snake once a month to determine whether urban snakes experience benefits like faster growth, better body condition, and ultimately increased reproductive success compared to their rural counterparts.

By now you’re probably asking yourself, “Why should I care about a snake, especially a venomous snake”? We can use this information to understand habitat use and movement patterns of copperheads in Overton Park so that negative human-snake encounters may be reduced.

A pencil-sized newborn copperhead uses it's green-tipped tail to lure in prey.

Most notably, we hope to improve understanding of animal responses to urbanization, which is increasing worldwide and exerting greater pressure on species around the globe. Your support of the Memphis Zoo is crucial to the expansion and success of our research – Thank you!

By Dr. Jon Davis, Post-doctoral fellow, Memphis Zoo Conservation and Research and Rhodes College Department of Biology

Aug. 1	Brew Tickets on Sale
Sept. 3	Zoo Brew
Sept. 11	Zoo Rendezvous

Aug. 1

Brew Tickets on Sale

Sept. 3

Zoo Brew

Sept. 11

Zoo Rendezvous

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Tuesday, December 16, 2008

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