Orchard Club Subdivision Site
Goshen Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania

During the spring of 2008, North American Land Corporation (NALC) commissioned WHM Consulting, Inc. (WHM) to conduct a Phase I timber rattlesnake habitat assessment and a Phase II timber rattlesnake presence/absence survey at the Orchard Club Subdivision Site which is located in Goshen Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. The Orchard Club Site is comprised of 1,285 acres and is surrounded primarily by State Forest Land.

The property consisted primarily of vacant wooded land. A subdivision plan had been approved to divide the site into 55 lots intended for residential use. It was intended that development will be restricted to protect the wooded nature of the site.

The habitat assessment was conducted in May of 2008 and in accordance with the PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) assessment protocol (revised July 2001) for determining the presence of potential timber rattlesnake habitat. The PFBC habitat assessment form was completed. Digital photographs of the site were taken. During the habitat assessment, it was determined that potential timber rattlesnake over-wintering (denning) and basking (gestating/rookery) habitat occurs on and in immediate proximity to the site. The potential rattlesnake habitat was mapped with GPS and ARC-GIS technology. In May of 2008, NALC commissioned WHM to conduct a timber rattlesnake presence/absence survey at the site. The timber rattlesnake presence/absence survey took place during May and June of 2008 and was conducted in accordance with the PFBC "Timber Rattlesnake Presence-Absence Survey Guidelines" (revised March 2004).

Timber rattlesnakes were found to be present on the site. The rattlesnakes were primarily observed in a 30 acre basking habitat area found in a portion of the site that is a significant distance from any proposed development. Through collaboration with the PA Fish and Boat Commission, the PFBC and WHM decided to develop a plan to distribute signs at the property which will alert and educate future lot owners of the potential of interactions with timber rattlesnakes on the project site. In addition, a timber rattlesnake educational package for lot owners was produced. These signs and educational package materials provide lot owners with instructions on how to safely deal with timber rattlesnakes that might wander through their properties and with education regarding the protected status of the timber rattlesnake in PA. The timber rattlesnake habitat that occurs on the property was set aside as a natural area. The facilitation of the educational signs and educational packages allowed for the project to be permitted as planned.

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