Implementation of the Action Plan for Aesculapian Snake in Eger River Valley
Objectives
The population of the Aesculapian Snake in the Eger River Valley is extraordinarily threatened and very vulnerable. Rapid decline in abundance has been documented since the 1980s. Biotope loss by changed management and landscape use methods, lack of suitable reproducing places, road traffic and alien predators are among the main causes of threatening. This project includes several measures essential for surviving and stabilization of the unique isolated population, such as managment of existing egg-laying sites, restoration of old one egg-laying sites, cleaning and restoration of old and shady dry-stone walls, reproduction research, estimating number of population, biotope monitoring, support to hunting alien predators and restoration of small water bodies.
Implementation
1) Regular maintenance and total reconstruction of an existing egg-laying sites
This project involves reconstruction of 6 egg-laying sites and regular maintenance of 12 egg-laying sites. Altogether 18 egg-laying sites will be treated. This measure is realized during the whole active season and will be finished by the end of November 2015.
2) cleaning and restoration of old and shady dry-stone walls
This project involves cleaning and restoration dry-stone walls on 4 localities. This measure is realized during the whole active season and will be finished by the end of November 2015.
3) Restoration of small water bodies
This project involvescreating of 4 small water bodies for amphibians and water invertebrates. Two small water bodies in grazing areas are fenced to protect them from animal destroying.
4) Estimate of the number of members of the population
The estimate of the number of members of the population using mark-recapture method is necessary for the establishment of the efficiency of the Action Plan. During the season 2015 about 130 animals were caught and individually marked.
5) Reproduction research
In 2015 chosen hatching places were monitored by data loggers in order to find out temperature and humidity conditions in the hatching place. In the autumn after the hatching of eggs, egg-laying sites were checked and remaining eggs counted. We were able to found about 160 remnants of egg shells so the successful reproduction of the Aesculapian Snake is proved there.
6) Support to alien species hunting
Cooperation with hunting society was established in order to hunt allochthonnous predators including American mink (Mustela vison), racoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and racoon (Procyon lotor). These animals represent high level of risk for the Aesculapin Snake
7) Biotope monitoring
Several dozens of biotopes were monitored during the season 2015 according to Action Plan methodology. A detailed monitoring of biotopes is necessary for the long-term tracking of the condition of the biotopes, changes of the home range and efficiency of individual measures.
Results
- 6 totally reconstructed egg-laying sites for the Aesculapian Snake
- 12 managed egg-laying sites for the Aesculapian Snake
- 4 celaned and restored dra-stone walls
- 4 new small water bodies (2 of them are fenced)
- 130 caught and individually marked exemplars of the Aesculapian Snake
- 12 egg-laying sites monitored by data loggers in order to find out temperature and humidity conditions inside them
- 160 remnants ogf egg shells wound inside egg-laying sited
- 50 biotopes monitored according to Action Plan methodology
