Desert Animal Relocation Efforts Often Prove Unsuccessful

By Andrew Bernier
Published: Monday, February 2, 2015 - 5:05am
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Photo Courtesy of Justin Schofer - Northern Arizona University
Erika Nowak prepares to safely move a 20-year-old rattlesnake during field research. The snakes in the study were outfitted with tiny transmitters so Nowak and her team could follow their movements after relocation.

As desert landscapes are modified by development and climate change, original residents often have to be moved. However, common animal relocation efforts often don’t succeed and a new report offers a possible solution.

When individual animals are relocated to habitats similar to where they are from, it is often thought they will be fine. However, a new study from NAU and ASU indicates that when some individual animals are relocated, their chances of survival are less than half. 

The study focused on larger desert reptiles, specifically rattlesnakes, desert tortoises and Gila monsters. The researchers found that animals will often attempt to travel back to their original home, but often die from sickness caused by stress or being killed by humans.

The researchers suggest that the method of translocation be used by organizations who relocate animals. Translocation is where populations of different species are moved together, as opposed to a single individual animal. When individuals are near other dependent species, it may have higher success rates for animal relocation.

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