Hudson Highlands Environmental Consulting

RICHARD “RANDY” STECHERT

RICHARD “RANDY” STECHERT*Note: Many people are accessing this page after doing a search on known rattlesnake dens in various states.  Please be advised that it is illegal to publicly disclose den locations for this protected species, and that therefore no such information can be found on the internet. We have access to this information as professionals, and we would be happy to otherwise provide assistance on determining whether a particular property provides habitat for timber rattlesnakes. Contact us for more information.*
 

Herpetologist
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
With 48 years of experience in studying reptiles and amphibians, Randy Stechert has conducted thousands of surveys for timber rattlesnakes, bog turtles, and other species in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He has been called one of the leading authorities in New York State, and is often called upon by both the NYSDEC and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to lend his expertise, especially in working with timber rattlesnakes and in protecting their habitat. He is responsible for timber rattlesnake surveys on some of the largest and most significant land holdings in the region, including West Point Military Reservation, Picattiny Arsenal, and Sterling Forest.  Statewide, Mr. Stechert is credited with determining the location of 82% of all known timber rattlesnake dens in New York.

Primary services offered by this consortium member can be found on the following pages (click on to see):

Ecological Services
Advocacy for Neighborhood or Environmental Groups

EDUCATION
Skidmore College, Saratoga, NY, Field Instructor and Lab Assistant to Dr. William S. Brown, 1981-1984.

EXPERIENCE

A selected sampling of representative projects include:

  • Dick’s Concrete Company, Inc., conducted Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) radiotelemetry studies on two separate properties in Orange County and Town of Ramapo in Rockland County, NY.
  • Tuxedo Reserve, Tuxedo, NY, conducted Timber Rattlesnake radiotelemetry studies on 2000+ acre proprty.
  • Cropley Property, Dover Plains, NY, conducted Phase I survey for Bog Turtles (Glyptemys muhlenbergii).
  • New York Natural Heritage Program (NYHER), contracted to identify species occurrence and develop a survey protocol for Five Lined Skinks (Eumeces faciatus), Northern Copperheads (Agkistrodon c. mokasen), and Timber Rattlesnakes.
  • Pine Island, NY, conducted study to identify potential Bog Turtle habitat and verify Blue-Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale) presence.
    NYSDEC and NYHER, conducted study to review known Timber Rattlesnake dens and identify suspected den sites.
  • Berkshire County, MA, contracted with Western Chapter  of the Massachusetts Nature Conservancy to survey known and potential Timber Rattlesnake habitat and den sites.
    Delaware County, NY, delineated Timber Rattlesnake habitat along proposed Route17/I-86 DOT upgrade.
  • Freedom Plains, Dutchess County, NY, conducted Phase I and Phase II surveys for Blandings Turtles (Emydoidea bladingdii).
  • Annual contract (over 11 years) with United States Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY, NYSDEC Endangered Species Unit, and NYHER to provide a general herpetological survey of southern NY, radiotrack Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) and Wood Turtles (Clemmys insculpta) and research Timber Rattlesnake habitat, population movements through mark/recapture, radiotelemetry, and demographics.
  • Annual contract (over 16 years) with NYSDEC, Delmar, NY, to determone rattlesnake den locations, critical habitat, population size estimates, and threats to individual populations.
    Contract with NYHER, Latham, NY, to conduct field surveys for Timber Rattlesnakes and other endangered and threatened species in western NY, and the Lake George-Lake Champlain Valley.
  • Contract with NJDEP to identify and update Timber Rattlesnake den locations and population size estimates in northern NJ.
  • Picatinny Arsenal, Hibernia, NJ, contract with NJDEP to determine Timber Rattlesnake den locations.
  • USMA, West Point, NY, contract to determine Timber Rattlesnake den locations, critical habitat, and causes of attrition on West Point Military Reservation.
  • Sterling Forest, NY/NJ, Field survey of rattlesnake den and basking habitat.

Licenses

Annual licenses from NYSDEC, PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), and Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) to conduct Endangered and Threatened Species surveys in NY and NJ.