What specific habitat feature is essential for Western Ratsnake populations on the drier range edges of Kansas and Nebraska?
Answer
Riparian corridors
While the Western Rat Snake is generally adaptable, populations found along the drier, western edges of their distribution, such as those in Nebraska and Kansas, display a strong reliance on specific types of linear habitats. These essential features are the riparian corridors—the wooded areas directly associated with streams and rivers. In plains environments where extensive forest cover might otherwise be absent, these wooded river bottoms provide the necessary cover, food sources, and moisture crucial for survival. This reliance contrasts with the more varied habitat use seen in the species' central range.
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