The Trustees, in partnership with BiodiversityWorks secured a MA Wildlife Habitat Protection Program grant to support the construction of two North American Racer (Coluber constrictor) hibernacula and a wildlife road crossing at Long Point Wildlife Refuge. The racer is a species of conservation concern in MA and is listed in the state’s Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). A 2017- 2019 study by BiodiversityWorks on Martha’s Vineyard indicated that this particular species relies heavily on early successional habitat such as coastal heathland/shrubland and sandplain grassland during the spring and summer and hibernate among pitch pine forests in the winter. This study also demonstrated that racers need lots of room to roam. A single snake’s home range can be hundreds of acres in size.

The new under-road crossing at Long Point Refuge in West Tisbury, Massachusetts

The impetus for this project stemmed from the death of a radio tagged snaked that met its demise at Long Point Wildlife Refuge. The snake, fondly named Audrey, was discovered to have been run over on a dirt road leading to the refuge. In an effort to prevent future road crossing mortalities, biologists at BiodiversityWorks designed an under-road crossing, providing the snakes with a safe way to traverse one of the refuge’s busiest roads. Drift fences along the road will direct snakes towards the road crossing. Additionally, two hibernacula will be constructed close to documented snake areas in the hopes of encouraging snakes to hibernate locally rather than traveling great distances across sometimes unsafe lands.

Roy Hope, of Martha’s Vineyard, constructs a hibernacula at Long Point.

Written by Shea Fee, Trustees of Reservations