Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont & New York: Biology, History, and the Fate of an Endangered Species [Paperback]

Jon Furman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2007

Today, small populations of timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) quietly inhabit parts of Rutland County in Vermont, and Warren,Washington, and Essex counties in New York. Because the species is endangered, the exact locations of established dens in this area are a closely guarded secret. Insider, naturalist, and author Jon Furman has devoted years to the study of the snake's past and present range, its habitat and biology, the period in Vermont and upstate New York history during which timber rattlesnakes were ruthlessly hunted for a bounty, and the outlook for this severely threatened species in both states.

Soundly anchored in the latest scientific data, Furman proffers an accessible and engaging account of contemporary fieldwork and first-person interviews with herpetologists and old-time bounty hunters. For expert and lay readers interested in snakes and reptiles, northeastern fauna and natural history, conservation, and endangered species, this volume clearly explicates the timber rattlesnake's biology as well as what happens and what to do when one bites. It also explores the troubling decline of the northeastern population caused by bounty hunting between the 1890s and the early 1970s, other past and present threats to the species' survival, and what measures are being taken--and additional ones that must be taken--to ensure that timber rattlesnakes survive and thrive in the northeast. Historical and contemporary illustrations bring these reptiles and their world to life. Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont & New York shines a new light on a maligned and misunderstood species.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Every once in a while a book comes along that defies categorization. Such is the wonderful slithering conundrum that West Rutland author Jon Furman poses for booksellers with his "Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont & New York." Its title and 208 extensively footnoted pages argue for placement on the shelf with other nature guides. But there are easily a half dozen reasons Furman's book deserves a much wider readership, not the least its stunning cover photo of a yellow morph timber rattler, its fierce glare through yellow-slitted eyes striking us - as it were - with fear, fascination and repulsion." --Rutland Herald

" . . . Furman, an experienced naturalist and writer, provides a fresh look at the often sensationalized but frequently misunderstood timber rattlesnake . . . . Aside from the literature, Furman relies heavily on his own observations and those of a wide variety of experts, both professional and amateur, to give a lively account of this species . . . Recommended." --Choice

"Every once in a while, a book comes along that defies categorization. Such is the wonderful, slithering conundrum that author Jon Furman poses . . . with his Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont and New York. What Furman has crafted . . . is nothing less than a remarkable snake stew, a blend of history book, field trip, old-fashioned yarn, ecological and biological study, mythology, and sociological treatise . . ."--Northern Woodlands

Review

"This a well written interesting treatise on the timber rattlesnake bounty system in the Northeast. It includes good summaries of the life history of the snake, its bite and the treatment for it, and the effects of bounties on the populations of the reptile. I highly recommend it to persons interested in the snake and conservation of Northeast wildlife in general." (Carl H. Ernst, Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: UPNE (December 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584656565
• ISBN-13: 978-1584656562
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,226,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique and informative book!, April 11, 2008

By 

Thomas Warner - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont & New York: Biology, History, and the Fate of an Endangered Species (Paperback)

The author has produced a very readable and accurate view of this vanishing American. I am unaware of any comparable book on the subject and I recommend it highly. Furman has obviously expended a huge amount of time in research, interviews and time spent in the field with other top experts. Very informative and entertaining. I will give it a prominent place in my nature library and believe anyone interested in ecology should obtain a copy.

5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging natural history of a remarkable animal, March 7, 2011

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Douglas F. Fraser (Rensselaer, NY, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont & New York: Biology, History, and the Fate of an Endangered Species (Paperback)

Jon Furman's book is a wonderful, multidimensional account of the timber rattlesnake in New York and Vermont. It's a unique book about rattlesnakes and people, a natural history genre gaining momentum these days. Here, Furman has done a very impressive job of bringing together the many threads of scientific research on the timber rattlesnakes, and presenting them in an engaging way in a fast-paced account. By interviewing scientists and lay persons, including notorious rattlesnake hunters, the author's account is infused with fascinating natural history details, like the observation of a snake drinking water from between its coils during a heavy rain storm that punctuated the end of a very long dry period, or the traits that make them such perfect predators of rodents. The story of the snake's remarkable biology, revealed by elegant field research, is juxtaposed with the story of its dreadful persecution at the hands of bounty hunters in the years before the mid-nineteen seventies when the practice was discontinued. Yet, in spite of their being seriously decimated, many populations have recovered to some extent. This is in part due to the snake's cryptic coloration, coupled with the rugged terrain it inhabits, and in part due to the efforts of many concerned researchers and lay persons that led to its protection in New York and New England. Furman tells this success story in some detail, but it's not just a downbeat recounting of snake loss and a vilification of the hunters. Rather, Furman offers a sympathetic view into the lives and motivations of the bounty hunters, which is of historical interest, owing to the fact that he was able to speak with them while still living; most have since passed away. In these enlightened days, one wants to know how to protect nature, and Furman's advice for protecting rattlesnakes, along with his strong plea for their conservation, has some refreshingly new ideas, which are worth serious thought.
I teach a vertebrate ecology course, and ask my students to read a book on vertebrates, which they have to clear with me beforehand. They tend to gravitate towards sharks, whales, tigers and the like, but I keep a copy on my desk of some good natural history books on less well-known or, as is the case here, well-liked animals, and when they ask for my advice, which they frequently do, I hold this book in front of them and say, "Here's a book that you will be very glad you read!"

5.0 out of 5 stars An important work on a neglected subject, February 19, 2011

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HDH "vtpirad" (VT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont & New York: Biology, History, and the Fate of an Endangered Species (Paperback)

This is a tirelessly researched and entertaining book for both the professional and curious layman alike. More than five years in the making, it documents the near extinction of a unique and fascinating species through fear and ignorance that continues to this day. A stew of back country characters, folk lore, scientific inquiry and the artist's eye for story telling makes this a must read for anyone concerned with conservation and the fate of the natural world.