Snake Processing & Surgeries

Sometime back in late July I had the chance to go over and watch Bryan, Beverly, and the crew process and implant transmitters in a couple of rattlesnakes. I enjoy going over to the lab to document it. This has been an interesting study of tracking snake movements the last few years in Great Basin National Park.

Caution: Post contains some graphic images

Surgical table, tools, and accessories.............

Transmitters.......

Retrieving the patient:

Determining length:

Rattle length:

On this particular snake, you could see a previous stitch..........

Obtaining blood:

The snake didn't look too thrilled about that part.......

Rattle width:

Subcaudal count:

Weight:

Processing of the rattlesnakes was wrapped up.
Now it was time for the surgeries.........

This snake had a previous surgery. It was back on the table because the transmitter wire somehow came out.

Everything, including the wire, is carefully sanitized......

Gloves on; prepping for the cut.............

My girl, Meg :)

Meg marks the location for the heart to monitor the snake while it's sleeping...........

Cotton ball doused with the anesthetic drug soon puts makes the surgery possible:

Isaac spent this time in "his office" he said doing important work :)

Snake is ready and the first incision is made..........

A transmitter is always placed in the snake where no vital organs are present.........

Inserting transmitter:

Repairing a second minor cut:

Finally, stitching the first cut where transmitter was inserted...........

.............and that's a wrap. Success!
Until next time :)

Here's an older article written in 2011 from the Las Vegas Review Journal if you didn't see it:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nevada-and-west/rattlesnakes-attract-attention-great-basin-national-park