for amphibian reproduction. This could include small fenced exclosures above water 

 diversions to stock tanks, water from natural springs and seeps should not be divened 

 immediately into stock tanks, as this could exclude amphibians from access to the water. 

 At sites with significant overflow from wells and tanks, consider creating livestock 

 exclosures along portions of the outflow. Consider fencing off sections of ponds and 

 reservoirs that include shoreline emergent vegetation. This provides egg-laying sites and 

 cover to immature amphibians, and also provides adults and immature stages with refugia 

 from trampling by livestock Exclosures at ponds and smaller reser\oirs should be 

 designed to account for water loss during evaporative drawdown, and encompass some 

 water that wdll last at least to mid-August if possible. 

 C) Create new ponds exclusively for amphibians to which livestock are excluded Creation of 

 buffer zones (Semlitsch 1998) around these sites (and other sites as well) should also be 

 considered, as the standing water in wetlands is used primarily for breeding and 

 tadpole/larval development, not for much of adult activity by several species of semi- 

 aquatic amphibians (such as Tiger Salamanders and the toads). Semi-aquatic species may 

 disperse from large distances (> 2 km perhaps) to wetland sites to breed. .A.dult habitats 

 also need to be considered in any active management program for amphibians. 



2) A critical component of the life cycle in snakes is the wintering den. Many species hibernate 

 in large aggregations at traditional den sites Often these hibemacula are used by more than 

 one species (Koch and Peterson 1995), and mating often takes place at or near the den site. 

 Snakes then move away from dens for as much as 6 miles in summer, returning in the fall to 

 over-winter. These sites typically are situated where snakes can get well down into an area of 

 fractured rock, often near cliffs or in talus slopes. While these sites are robust, they are 

 vulnerable to disturbance, such as road building, or vandalism and over-collecting. Den sites 

 should be documented and protected Fencing around dens might be suitable in some 

 situations to exclude livestock. Sites should be monitored annually to determine use and 

 relative abundance of species present. Den locations should be revealed only to responsible 

 individuals. The Western Rattlesnake and Milk Snake are of special concern. Rattlesnakes 

 are subjected to needless killing by the public at large, and susceptible to harvesting by 

 unauthorized individuals selling venom and meat for commercial purposes. Local 

 exnermination is a real possibility. Milk Snakes are highly valued by the pet trade, and over- 

 harvest at dens is a real possibility Den site locations of this species should be shared only 

 under special circumstances. 



3) Traditional nesting sites of Common Snapping Turtles and Spiny Softshells. both BLM 

 Special Status species, should be protected from disturbance of any kind, through use of 

 livestock exclosures if necessary. Most nesting sites, however, will be near larger rivers and 

 tributaries in sandy and sand-deposition sites, and subjected to flooding and shifts in channels. 

 Protection of individual nests may include establishing predator exclosures around clutches. 

 This would be necessary- only if it is e\ident that predators (skunks and raccoons in particular) 

 are destroying an exceptional number of nests. Predation of turtle nests is often >50% in 

 many areas, but '"normal" predation rates for Montana populations are not known. 



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