Use snakeskin to deter mammalian nest predators

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

33%
Certainty

15%
Harms

not assessed

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Some bird species such as great crested flycatchers Myiarchus crinitus and tufted titmice Baeolophus bicolor use snake skins in their nests, possibly to reduce predation.

Study locations

Key messages

A randomised, replicated and controlled trial in the USA found that artificial nests were less likely to be predated if they had snake skin wrapped around them than control nests.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A randomised, replicated and controlled trial in May-June 2004 in Arkansas, USA (Medlin & Risch 2006) found that artificial great crested flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus nests placed inside 60 nest boxes were less likely to be predated if there was black rat snake Elaphe obsolete skin inside the nest box (0/20 nests predated) or both inside and outside the nest box (0/20 predated) than if there was no snake skin present (5/20 predated). Predation was mainly by southern flying squirrels Glaucomys volans. Snake skins were treated by being placed in proximity with to a live rat snake for five hours prior to installation.

Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Medlin E.C. & Risch T.S. (2006) An experimental test of snake skin use to deter nest predation. The Condor, 108, 963-965.

Please cite as:

Williams, D.R., Child, M.F., Dicks, L.V., Ockendon, N., Pople, R.G., Showler, D.A., Walsh, J.C., zu Ermgassen, E.K.H.J. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Bird Conservation. Pages 137-281 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bird Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Use snakeskin to deter mammalian nest predators Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	1	Synopsis Link
Guard nests to prevent predation Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Physically protect nests with individual exclosures/barriers or provide shelters for chicks of storks and ibises Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	1	Synopsis Link