Thamnophis Sirtalis Tetrataenia by Andres Michel Rodriguez

Thamnophis Sirtalis Tetrataenia

San Francisco Garter Snake

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1)      Description and Ecology of Organism

Thamnophis Sirtalis Tetrataenia or the San Francisco Garter Snake (SFGS) is arguably one of the most gorgeous snakes in the North America; just look at its turquoise-blue body with red-orange and black bold stripes. This slender snake is difficult to locate, capture or observe since it is extremely shy, rapidly fleeing to water or cover when disturbed. The SFGS prefers habitats with standing waters like marshes, sloughs, or mainly ponds densely vegetated with cattails, bulrushes, and spike rushes to utilize as cover. They also prefer to be near an open hillside where they can sunbath. However, a significantly less ideal habitat can be an optimum environment, such as temporary ponds and other seasonal freshwater bodies. However, the SFGS will avoid brackish marsh areas because their preferred prey, the California Red-Legged Frog (CRLF), cannot survive in saline water. The SFGS is primarily active during the day but may hunt after dark during warm evenings feeding heavily on frogs, toads, small fish, immature newts, worms, mosquito, salamanders, and tadpoles. During the night, the SFGS uses rodent burrows and crevices to rest.

2)      Geographic and Population Changes

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Historically, the SFGS survived in scattered wetland areas on the San Francisco Peninsula from approximately the San Francisco County line south. Stated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service the SFGS ranged from the eastern and western bases of the Santa Cruz Mountains, at least to the Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir, and along the coast south to Año Nuevo Point, San Mateo County, and Waddell Creek, Santa Cruz County.

Currently, although the geographical distribution remains the same, reliable information regarding specific locations and population status is not available due to the shy snake being difficult to study. Much of the remaining suitable habitat is located on private property, which has not been surveyed for the presence of the snake. Many locations that previously had healthy populations of garter snakes are now in decline. The SFGS is endemic to the San Francisco Peninsula approximately in 30 locations ranging from northern San Mateo County south along the east slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains and west to Point Año Nuevo. The SFGS favors the habitat west of Crystal Springs, west of Highway 101, and near the bay at the site of the San Francisco International Airport.

3)      Listing Date and Type of Listing

The SFGS was put under protection by federal law in March 1967 and then federally listed threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The SFGS was also state-listed as endangered by California Department of Fish and Game in May 1971 under the California Endangered Species Act.

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4)      Cause of listing and Main threats to its continued existence

 Factors that caused the SFGS to be listed were loss of habitat from agricultural, commercial and urban development. Urbanization has caused alteration and isolation to SFGS’s habitat. This includes loss and adverse modification of wetlands and adjacent upland habitat by urban, industrial, and recreational development. Such developments are filling of wetlands, construction of shopping malls, roads, and contaminants from automotive oil and garden chemicals. In addition, playing a vital role is agriculture by conversion of streams and creek channelization, removal of emergent riparian vegetation (plants along the edge of rivers or banks), and riprapping (using loose stone to form a foundation for a breakwater) of stream banks and shorelines. Numerous of SFGS population sites were subject to human disturbance or threatened with habitat destruction.  For example, the Skyline ponds near Pacifica have been eradicated by housing developments.

These historical threats to the species remain, but there are now additional threats. There has been documented decline of the CRLF and the introduction of bullfrogs. The arrival of non-native bullfrogs, which eat both the SFGS and CRLF, have added to the snake's decline. The SFGS has also suffered from poaching by black market collectors due its stunning coloration.

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5)      Description of Recovery Plan

The LSA Associates Inc. has prepared a recovery plan for the San Francisco

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International Airport, a prime environment for SFGS. LSA is a 40-year-old full-service consulting firm designed to meet the need for environmental evaluation based on California Environmental Quality Act. LSA specializes in air quality, land use planning and resource management, environmental analysis, noise pollution, water quality, biological resources, etc. The recovery plan has multiple phases to enhancing the SFGS habitat.

The first phase of the recovery plan are enhancements to the South Lomita Canal, Cupid Row Canal, and Seventh Avenue Ditch. Along the South Lomita Canal, four channel openings will be constructed. The channels will provide additional aquatic breeding habitat for CRLF and other amphibians, as well as foraging habitat for SFGS. In Cupid Row Canal, a sediment trap will be 

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installed at the upstream end of the canal. The purpose of the sediment trap will be to capture sediment from storm flows entering the canal at its inflow point, resulting in decreased sediment deposition along its entire length. Both canals will be widened and the concrete bend will be realigned to create additional open-water habitat for CRLF and other amphibians. The Seventh Avenue Ditch and South Lomita Canal’s wetlands will be deepened and enlarged. The deepening of the wetlands will increase the duration of the seasonal wetlands by approximately 66 days. LSA predicts the enhancement of the ditch will be naturally colonized by hydrophytes (plants grown exclusively in or on water). 

Other phase one enhancements will be vegetation debris piles, invasive plant removal, fuel abatement reform, and access road restoration. The vegetation debris piles will be placed in several vital locations providing refuge and cover for SFGS. Invasive plants such as ice plants and pampas

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grass will be eradicated to restore annual grassland habitat for SFGS and CRLF. During the summer, grasses and other vegetation become extremely dry and combustible. In response, the airport’s annual fuel abatements will be transferred along the West of Bayshore to reduce the potential of wildfires. In addition, vegetation will be shortened to approximately 6 inches using weed-eaters and non-mechanized hand tools. The cut vegetation will be gathered and transported outside the site. Finally, many entities including the SF International Airport use existing access roads on the West of Bayshore, however, the roads are concealed in weeds and are therefore undistinguishable. This causes maintenance personnel to wander to undisturbed habitats. To prevent this, roads will receive high levels of regrading using lignosulfonates. Lignosulfonates is a non-toxic and have long been used on roads for dust control and surface stabilization. The lignosulfonates will increase the compaction and density of the road surface reducing weeds. There will also be a five mph limit, speed bumps or dips, signs alerting the presence of SFGS, CRLF, and sensitive habitats. 

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The final two phases will follow similar procedures. After phase one is complete phase two will commence in four to six years and phase three in seven to ten years. The results of monitoring and data collection from implementation of phase one will determine phase two and three habitat enhancements. These enhancements will be additional non-native vegetation removal, deepening of existing seasonal wetlands, and creating new wetlands and channel openings.

6)      What can you do?

For those who do not live near SFGShabitats I would recommend contacting your elected representatives and expressing your views about conservation of endangered species and wild habitats. Also, do not purchase wild-caught reptiles and other animals for pets. However, a more direct method would be donating at the website SAVE THE FROG! This is a public charity and its

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mission is to protect amphibian populations by raising awareness, implement new legislation, create and restore wildlife habitat. According to the National Wildlife Federation the CRLF is America’s third most threatened frog. By helpings the CRLF would also benefit the SFGS because they are a major food source and share habitat.

For those who do live near a SFGS habitat here are few tips to support them. If you do happen to spot a SFGS in your yard or anywhere outside its habitat, please call (916)414-6600. This number is Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office’s administration support division. Also, keep your pets where they do not harm snakes or other wildlife. Finally, the most important tip DO NOT ATTACK THE SFGS! They will not bite you because as mentioned before they are extremely shy and absolutely harmless. As a snake owner I can attest for the SFGS and countless other snakes. My snake downright loathes baths but every week I give him one without getting bitten. If I can bathe my stubborn snake, I can guarantee you can walk away from a snake without suffering a bite.

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7)      Other resources

San Francisco garter snake returns to its namesake city

https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/outreach/Featured-Stories/SF-Garter-Snake/outreach_featured-stories_sf-garter-snake.htm

Snake Myths and Facts

http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Snake-Myths-and-Facts/

Critical Habitat Data

https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es/Critical-Habitat/Data/es_critical-habitat_data.htm

California red-legged frog

SAVE THE FROGS! website

https://www.savethefrogs.com/

California Red-Legged Frog

http://www.savethefrogs.com/d/amphibians/rana-draytonii.html

8)      References

“America’s 10 Most Threaten Frogs and Toads.” The National Wildlife Formation, 28 Apr.

2010, http://www.nwf.org/en/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2010/Most-Threatene.

Jane Kay. “ENDANGERED SPECIES / Colorful Bay Area denizen slithering away / 'Beautiful

serpent' suffering effects of urbanization.” San Francisco Chronicle, 22. 2004, http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/ENDANGERED-SPECIES-Colorful-Bay-Area-denizen-2765575.php/d-Frogs-US.

“LSA Associates, Inc.” LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/lsa-associates-inc-.

Recovery Action Plan for the San Francisco Garter Snake. LSA Associates, Inc., 2008,

Recovery Action Plan for the San Francisco Garter Snake, http://mission.sfgov.org/OCA_BID_ATTACHMENTS/FA11021.pdf 

United States, Congress, “Recovery Plan for the San Francisco Garter Snake.” Recovery Plan for

the San Francisco Garter Snake.

“Species Information, San Francisco Garter Snake.” Sacramento Fish and Wildlife, 16 Sept.

2016, https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es_species/Accounts/Amphibians-Reptiles/es_sf-garter-snake.htm.