Male worm snakes were more massive at a given length in controls than 25 percent retention treatments. The percentage of females in gravid condition did not differ among treatments, and the percentage of the sample comprised of juveniles was consistently high and also did not vary among treatments. Sex ratios were skewed towards males on clearcut treatments. Worm snake abundance did not vary among treatments. Drift fences and coverboards were used to sample worm snake populations in each treatment. Treatments included five levels of basal area retention at 15 units (4 ha/unit): 0, 25, 50, 75 percent retention, and control (100 percent retention) with three replicates each. We examined the relationship between silvicultural techniques, particularly shelterwood cuts with varying levels of basal area retention, and the abundance and population structure of eastern worm snakes in the Cumberland Plateau of northern Alabama. The eastern worm snake ( Carphophis amoenus amoenus Say) is common in many eastern deciduous forests, yet little is known about the ecology of the species in managed forests.

In-depth analyses of a species’ response to canopy retention treatments can provide insight into reasons for observed changes in abundance.

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