DOCSLIB.ORG

Giant Garter Snake

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Giant Garter Snake SpeU.S . Fish and Wildlife Service Giant Garter Snake Thamnophis gigas 2) emergent, herbaceous wetland Wildlife Areas. Historically the giant vegetation, such as cattails and garter snake inhabited the southern bulrushes, for escape cover and Central Valley; however, here have foraging habitat during the active been only a few recent sightings of season; 3) grassy banks and giant garter snakes in the San openings in waterside vegetation for Joaquin Valley. basking; and 4) higher elevation uplands for cover and refuge from Giant garter snakes are typically flood waters during the snake's absent from larger rivers because of inactive season in the winter. the lack of suitable habitat and emergent vegetative cover, and from The giant garter snake inhabits small wetlands with sand, gravel, or rock CLASSIFICATION mammal burrows and other soil substrates. While not always the Threatened—October 1993 crevices above prevailing flood case, riparian woodlands typically do elevations throughout its winter not provide suitable habitat because DESCRIPTION inactive period. They typically select of excessive shade, lack of basking The giant garter snake is one of the burrows with sunny exposure along sites, and absence of prey largest garter snakes, with females south and west-facing slopes. The populations. reaching an average length of about breeding season extends through 34 inches in the San Joaquin Valley. March and April, and females give THREATS Females tend to be slightly longer birth to live young from late July Habitat loss and fragmentation, flood and proportionately heavier than through early September. control activities, changes in males. Female giant garter snakes agricultural and land management typically weigh 1-1.5 pounds. Giant Brood size is variable, ranging from practices, predation from introduced garter snakes are in the family 10 to 46 young, with an average of species, road mortalities, and water Colubridae, which includes most of 23. The young snakes immediately pollution are the main causes for the the species of snakes found in the scatter into dense cover and absorb decline of this species. western United States. their yolk sacs, after which they hunt independently. Although growth Giant garter snakes can inhabit water The basic color on the snake's back rates are variable, young typically bodies that contain predatory fish. varies from brownish to olive with a more than double in size within the When lots of cover is available, they checkered pattern of black spots, first year. Sexual maturity averages 3 seem to hold their own, even when separated by a yellow dorsal stripe years for males and 5 years for numerous predators share the same and two light colored lateral stripes. females. habitats. Giant garter snakes are Background coloration and probably absent from larger rivers prominence of a black checkered DISTRIBUTION because the habitat is not suitable, pattern and the three light stripes are The giant garter snake inhabits not because of the fish. The major geographically and individually agricultural wetlands and other rivers have been highly channelized, variable. The snake's underside is waterways such as irrigation and removing oxbows and backwater cream to olive or brown and drainage canals, sloughs, ponds, areas that probably at one time sometimes infused with orange, small lakes, low gradient streams, provided suitable habitat. especially in northern populations. and adjacent uplands in the California Central Valley. Due to the CRITICAL HABITAT: Giant garter snakes feed primarily on direct loss of natural habitat, the None small fish, tadpoles, and frogs. giant garter snake relies heavily on Habitat requirements consist of: 1) rice fields in the Sacramento Valley, RECOVERY PLAN: adequate water during the snake's but also uses managed marsh areas None active season (early-spring through in Federal National Wildlife Refuges mid-fall) to provide food and cover; and State September 2016 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • For Creative Minds
    For Creative Minds The For Creative Minds educational section may be photocopied or printed from our website by the owner of this book for educational, non-commercial uses. Cross-curricular teaching activities, interactive quizzes, and more are available online. Go to www.ArbordalePublishing.com and click on the book’s cover to explore all the links. Diurnal or Nocturnal Animals that are active during the day and asleep at night are diurnal. Animals that are active at night and asleep during the day are nocturnal. Read the following sentences and look for clues to determine if the animal is diurnal or nocturnal. A large dog sneaks up on The garter snake passes the skunk in the dark of the morning hunting night. The skunk stamps and basking in the warm her feet and throws her sunlight. If a predator tail up in the air. She arrives, he will hide his gives the other animal a head under some leaves warning before spraying. and flail his tail until it goes away. This bluebird is a The bright afternoon sun helpful garden bird. He helps this high-flying spends his days eating red-tailed hawk search insects off the plants and for her next meal. She defending his territory can see a grasshopper from other birds. from more than 200 feet (61m) away! As night falls, a small, The barn owl sweeps flying beetle with a over the field under glowing abdomen the dark night sky. emerges. She flashes her He flies slowly and light to signal to other silently, scanning the fireflies to come out.
    [Show full text]
  • Progress Report for the San Joaquin Valley Giant Garter Snake
    PROGRESS REPORT: 2003 SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY GIANT GARTER SNAKE CONSERVATION PROJECT Prepared by: Todd Williams, Wildlife Biologist Veronica Wunderlich, Biological Science Technician U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex Box 2176 Los Banos, CA 93635 INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND: The giant garter snake, Thamnophis gigas (Rossman & Stewart 1987), was designated as a federally threatened species throughout its range in October 1993 and (USFWS 1993). Giant garter snakes are endemic to the Central Valley of California, and historically occurred throughout the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys (Hansen and Brode 1980). They are thought to have occurred as far north as Butte County and south to Kern County, within the boundaries of the foothills of the Coastal and Sierra Nevada ranges. The current range of the giant garter snake is confined to the Sacramento Valley and isolated portions of the San Joaquin Valley (USFWS 1999). The giant garter snake is primarily an aquatic species that feeds on small fishes, tadpoles, and frogs (Fitch 1941). Historically, prey items included thick-tailed chub (Gila crassicauda), Sacramento blackfish (Orthodox microlepidus), and the California red- legged frog (Rana aurora draytoni), all of which have been extirpated from the giant garter snake’s current range (Rossman et al 1996). The habitat requirements of giant garter snakes include wetland areas with sufficient emergent vegetation for cover, openings in the vegetation for basking, and access to rodent burrows for shelter and winter periods of reduced activity (USFWS 1993). Giant garter snakes tend to be absent from rivers that support populations of large predatory fish as well as watercourses that have sand, gravel or rocky substrates (Hansen 1980).
    [Show full text]
  • Giant Garter Snake: the Role of Rice and Effects of Water Transfers
    Giant Garter Snake: The Role of Rice and Effects of Water Transfers Report of Point Blue Conservation Science May 2017 W. David Shuford Giant Garter Snake: The role of rice and effects of water transfers May 2017 Point Blue Conservation Science W. David Shuford Suggested Citation: Shuford, W. D. 2017. Giant Garter Snake: The role of rice and effects of water transfers. Report of Point Blue Conservation Science, 3820 Cypress Drive #11, Petaluma, CA 94954. Point Blue Contribution No. 2133. Point Blue Conservation Science – Point Blue’s 140 staff and seasonal scientists conserve birds, other wildlife and their ecosystems through scientific research and outreach. At the core of our work is ecosystem science, studying birds and other indicators of nature’s health. Visit Point Blue on the web www.pointblue.org. Main Points Effects on the federally and state threatened giant garter snake are a major concern under a long-term (10-year) plan to transfer water from sellers in the Sacramento Valley to users south of the Delta or in the San Francisco Bay Area. Water will be made available for transfer from cropland idling, crop shifting, groundwater substitution, reservoir release, and conservation. A maximum of 60,693 acres of rice land would be fallowed each year if the full amount of 565,614 acre feet of surface water is transferred annually. This level of idling potentially could have major impacts on this snake given the current importance of the rice landscape in the Sacramento Valley to the species’ continued survival. Giant garter snakes in the Sacramento Valley have a strong association with natural wetlands and aquatic agricultural habitats, particularly rice and associated water conveyances.
    [Show full text]
  • Wildlife Spotting Along the Thames
    WILDLIFE SPOTTING ALONG THE THAMES Wildlife along the Thames is plentiful, making it a great location for birding. Bald Eagles and Osprey are regularly seen nesting and feeding along the river. Many larger birds utilize the Thames for habitat and feeding, including Red Tailed Hawks, Red Shoulder Hawks, Kestrels, King Fishers, Turkey Vultures, Wild Turkeys, Canada Geese, Blue Herons, Mallard Ducks, Black and Wood Ducks. Several species of owl have also been recorded in, such as the Barred Owl, Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl and even the Snowy Owl. Large migratory birds such as Cormorants, Tundra Swans, Great Egret, Common Merganser and Common Loon move through the watershed during spring and fall. The Thames watershed also contains one of Canada’s most diverse fish communities. Over 90 fish species have been recorded (more than half of Ontario’s fish species). Sport fishing is popular throughout the watershed, with popular species being: Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, White Perch, Crappie, Sunfish, Northern Pike, Grass Pickerel, Muskellunge, Longnose Gar, Salmon, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Barbot and Redhorse Sucker. Many mammals utilize the Thames River and the surrounding environment. White-tailed Deer, Muskrat, Beaver, Rabbit, Weasel, Groundhog, Chipmunk, Possum, Grey Squirrel, Flying Squirrel, Little Brown Bats, Raccoon, Coyote, Red Fox and - although very rare - Cougar and Black Bear have been recorded. Reptiles and amphibians in the watershed include Newts and Sinks, Garter Snake, Ribbon Snake, Foxsnake, Rat Snake, Spotted Turtle, Map Turtle, Painted Turtle, Snapping Turtle and Spiny Softshell Turtle. Some of the wildlife species found along the Thames are endangered making it vital to respect and not disrupt their sensitive habitat areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Giant Garter Snake Habitat Quantification Tool
    Giant Garter Snake Habitat Quantification Tool Part of the Multispecies Habitat Quantification Tool for the Central Valley Habitat Exchange Scientific Rationale and Methods Document, Version 5 Multispecies Habitat Quantification Tool: Giant Garter Snake Acknowledgements The development of the scientific approach for quantifying impacts and benefits to multiple species for use in the Central Valley Habitat Exchange (Exchange) would not have been possible without the input and guidance from a group of technical experts who worked to develop the contents of this tool. This included members of the following teams: Central Valley Habitat Exchange Project Coordinators John Cain (American Rivers) Daniel Kaiser (Environmental Defense Fund) Katie Riley (Environmental Incentives) Exchange Science Team Stefan Lorenzato (Department of Water Resources) Stacy Small-Lorenz (Environmental Defense Fund) Rene Henery (Trout Unlimited) Nat Seavy (Point Blue) Jacob Katz (CalTrout) Tool Developers Amy Merrill (Stillwater Sciences) Sara Gabrielson (Stillwater Sciences) Holly Burger (Stillwater Sciences) AJ Keith (Stillwater Sciences) Evan Patrick (Environmental Defense Fund) Kristen Boysen (Environmental Incentives) Giant Garter Snake TAC Brian Halstead (USGS) Laura Patterson (CDFW) Ron Melcer (formerly DWR; with Delta Stewardship Council as of February 2017) Chinook Salmon TAC Alison Collins (Metropolitan Water District) Brett Harvey (DWR) Brian Ellrott (NOAA/NMFS) Cesar Blanco (USFWS) Corey Phillis (Metropolitan Water District) Dave Vogel (Natural Resource
    [Show full text]
  • Lesser Known Snakes (PDF)
    To help locate food, snakes repeat- edly flick out their narrow forked tongues to bring odors to a special sense organ in their mouths. Snakes are carnivores, eating a variety of items, including worms, with long flexible bodies, snakes insects, frogs, salamanders, fish, are unique in appearance and small birds and mammals, and even easily recognized by everyone. other snakes. Prey is swallowed Unfortunately, many people are whole. Many people value snakes afraid of snakes. But snakes are for their ability to kill rodent and fascinating and beautiful creatures. insect pests. Although a few snakes Their ability to move quickly and are venomous, most snakes are quietly across land and water by completely harmless to humans. undulating their scale-covered Most of the snakes described bodies is impressive to watch. here are seldom encountered— Rather than moveable eyelids, some because they are rare, but snakes have clear scales covering most because they are very secre- their eyes, which means their eyes tive, usually hiding under rocks, are always open. Some snake logs or vegetation. For information species have smooth scales, while on the rest of New York’s 17 species others have a ridge on each scale of snakes, see the August 2001 that gives it a file-like texture. issue of Conservationist. Text by Alvin Breisch and Richard C. Bothner, Maps by John W. Ozard (based on NY Amphibian & Reptile Atlas Project) Artwork by Jean Gawalt, Design by Frank Herec This project was funded in part by Return A Gift To Wildlife tax check-off, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the NYS Biodiversity Research Institute.
    [Show full text]
  • The Southern Watersnake (Nerodia Fasciata) in Folsom, California: History, Population Attributes, and Relation to Other Introduced Watersnakes in North America
    THE SOUTHERN WATERSNAKE (NERODIA FASCIATA) IN FOLSOM, CALIFORNIA: HISTORY, POPULATION ATTRIBUTES, AND RELATION TO OTHER INTRODUCED WATERSNAKES IN NORTH AMERICA FINAL REPORT TO: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605 Sacramento, California 95825-1846 UNDER COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT #11420-1933-CM02 BY: ECORP Consulting, Incorporated 2260 Douglas Blvd., Suite 160 Roseville, California 95661 Eric W. Stitt, M. S., University of Arizona, School of Natural Resources, Tucson Peter S. Balfour, M. S., ECORP Consulting Inc., Roseville, California Tara Luckau, University of Arizona, Dept. of Ecology and Evolution, Tucson Taylor E. Edwards, M. S., University of Arizona, Genomic Analysis and Technology Core The Southern Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata) in Folsom, California: History, Population Attributes, and Relation to Other Introduced Watersnakes in North America CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 The Southern Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata)................................................................3 Study Area ....................................................................................................................6 METHODS ..........................................................................................................................9 Surveys and Hand Capture.............................................................................................9 Trapping.......................................................................................................................11
    [Show full text]
  • Edna), with a Case Study of Painted Turtle (Chrysemys Picta) Edna Under Field Conditions Clare I
    Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Publications 2-28-2019 A Brief Review of Non-Avian Reptile Environmental DNA (eDNA), with a Case Study of Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) eDNA under Field Conditions Clare I. M. Adams University of Otago Luke A. Hoekstra Iowa State University, [email protected] Morgan R. Muell Southern Illinois University Carbondale Fredric J. Janzen Iowa State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/eeob_ag_pubs Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons, Genetics Commons, and the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons The ompc lete bibliographic information for this item can be found at https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ eeob_ag_pubs/341. For information on how to cite this item, please visit http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ howtocite.html. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Publications by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Brief Review of Non-Avian Reptile Environmental DNA (eDNA), with a Case Study of Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) eDNA under Field Conditions Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an increasingly used non-invasive molecular tool for detecting species presence and monitoring populations. In this article, we review the current state of non-avian reptile eDNA work in aquatic systems, as well as present a field experiment on detecting the presence of painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) eDNA.
    [Show full text]
  • Thamnophis Gigas)
    Herpetological Conservation and Biology 13(1):80–90. Submitted: 2 June 2017; Accepted: 11 December 2017; Published 30 April 2018. REPRODUCTIVE FREQUENCY AND SIZE-DEPENDENCE OF FECUNDITY IN THE GIANT GARTERSNAKE (THAMNOPHIS GIGAS) JONATHAN P. ROSE1, JULIA S.M. ERSAN, GLENN D. WYLIE, MICHAEL L. CASAZZA, AND BRIAN J. HALSTEAD U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, California 95620, USA 1Corresponding author, email: [email protected] Abstract.—How reproductive output changes with age or size is a key life-history trait that can affect which demographic rates most influence population growth. Although many studies have investigated the reproductive ecology of gartersnakes, we know little about reproduction in the threatened Giant Gartersnake, Thamnophis gigas. We used X-radiography to determine reproductive status and estimated fecundity for 73 female T. gigas collected from several regions within the range of this species in the Sacramento Valley of California, USA, and synthesize these data with data from litters born in captivity to improve our understanding of reproduction in this species. Average total litter size determined from X-rays (15.9) and captive-born litters (15.5) are within the ranges reported from other gartersnakes, but captive-born litters had high rates of stillbirth. Only 154 of 202 neonates from captive snakes were born alive, and seven of 13 litters contained at least one stillborn neonate. We found that fecundity was positively related to maternal snout-vent length, and some evidence that larger litters contained smaller neonates. The proportion of X-rayed females that were gravid was 0.50 in 2014, 0.47 in and 2015, and 0.64 in 2016.
    [Show full text]
  • Giant Garter Snake (Thamnopsis Gigas)
    Reptiles Giant Garter Snake (Thamnopsis gigas) Giant Garter Snake (Thamnopsis gigas) Status State: Threatened Federal: Threatened Population Trend Global: Declining State: Declining Within Inventory Area: Unknown Data Characterization The location database for the giant garter snake (Thamnopsis gigas) within its known range in California includes 142 data records from 1908 to 2000. Of these, 30 were documented within the past 10 years, 12 or which are of high precision and may be accurately located. Two of these records are located outside but near the ECCC HCP/NCCP inventory area. This database includes records of individual sightings and locations of occupied, vacant, and natal dens. A moderate amount of literature is available for the giant garter snake because of its threatened status. Most of the literature pertains to habitat requirements, distribution, population demographics, threats, and management activities. A recovery plan for the giant garter snake has been published (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1999). Range The giant garter snake is endemic to the valley floor of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys of California. Records coincide with the historical distribution of large flood basins, freshwater marshes, and tributary streams of the Central Valley of California (Hansen and Brode 1980). The historic distribution of the giant garter snake extended from Sacramento and Contra Costa Counties southward to Buena Vista Lake near Bakersfield in Kern County. Some experts consider Contra Costa County outside the current range of giant garter snake; however the lack of records from the County may be due to a lack of survey effort (Hansen pers. comm.) (see below).
    [Show full text]
  • Amphibians and Snakes As Ruffed Grouse Food
    Sept. 1951 200 THE WILSON BULLETIN Vol. 63. No. 3 Amphibians and snakes as Ruffed Grouse food.-In the extensive literature pertain- ing to the Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) there are .few references to the species’ eat- ing of snakes and amphibians. Bump et el. (1947. “The Ruffed Grouse,” pp: 191-192), Petrides (1949. Wilson Bulletin, 61: 49), and Findley (1950. ibid., 62: 133) have reported recent records of grouse eating Common Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) in New York, Michigan, and Minnesota, respectively. Chaddock (1940. “Report of the Ruffed Grouse, Pinnated Grouse and Sharp-tailed Grouse Crop Investigation,” Wisconsin Conservation Department mimeo- graphed bulletin) has reported finding a garter snake and a frog (Ram sp.), respectively, in the crops of two Ruffed Grouse shot in northern Wisconsin in the fall of 1939. Scott (1947. Auk, 64: 140) has reported tinding a small Red-bellied Snake (Stweria occipitomacda/a) in the crop of a RulIed Grouse collected in Taylor County, Wisconsin, in October, 1942. We wish to publish here two more interesting records for Wisconsin which came to light in 1950 during our Ruffed Grouse population studies for the Pittman-Robertson grouse re- search project (13-R) of the Wisconsin Conservation Department. A Ruffed Grouse collected September 20, 1950, in Forest County, Wisconsin, had an American Toad (Bufo americanus) in its crop. The toad was 96 mm. long (with legs extended), weighed 9.6 grams, and had been swallowed whole. The grouse, a male, weighed 552 grams, and showed no ill effects, either in behavior or in physical condition, from eating the toad.
    [Show full text]
  • San Francisco Garter Snake, Thamnophis Sirtalis Tetrataenia
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Sacramento Fish & Wildlife Office Species Account SAN FRANCISCO GARTER SNAKE Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia CLASSIFICATION: Endangered Federal Register 32:4001; March 1967 http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/federal_register/fr18.pdf CRITICAL HABITAT: None designated RECOVERY PLAN: Final September 11, 1985 http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/850911.pdf In April 2005, 10 juvenile San Francisco garter snakes of five mixed gender pairs were transported from the Netherlands to the zoo. These ten snakes will be used as part of a public education effort that will include classroom visits from the Zoo Mobile, on-site presentations, inclusion in VIP tours and interpretive graphic displays, which are intended to inform local residents about the plight of the snake. DESCRIPTION: The San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) is a slender, colorful snake in the Colubridae family, which includes most of the species of snakes found in the western United States. This subspecies has a burnt orange head, greenish-yellow dorsal stripe edged in black, bordered by a red stripe, which may be continuous or broken with black blotches, and then a black stripe. The belly color varies from greenish-blue to blue. Large adults can reach 3 feet or more in length. Females give live birth from June through September, with litters averaging 16 newborn. The snakes are extremely shy, difficult to locate and capture, and quick to flee to water or cover when disturbed. The snakes' preferred habitat is a densely vegetated pond near an open hillside where they can sun themselves, feed, and find cover in rodent burrows; however, considerably less ideal habitats can be successfully occupied.
    [Show full text]