This species is renowned for their hardiness and diurnal activity, which helps make them excellent pet reptiles. There is often some overlap between their two patterns. Although the San Francisco garter snake is considered beneficial to humans, preying on pests such as small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, they are not to be approached upon sighting. Posted on March 25, 2010 by Administrator April 20, 2018. If you are not certain that your snake is a gartersnake, check the striped California snakes page to determine what kind of snake it is. https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es_species/Accounts/Amphibians-Reptiles/sf_garter_snake/, https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/reptiles/San_Francisco_garter_snake/action_timeline.html, https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/reptiles/San_Francisco_garter_snake/endangered_species_act_profile.html, https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/reptiles/San_Francisco_garter_snake/index.html, Blog #1 (Storytelling, Narrative , “What I Am” Story)-Exploring Writing Strategies, Blog #3 (Environmental Issue)-Greenland Glacier Warning, Blog #4 (Endangered Species)-Beautiful Snake on the Line. So there are quite a few SF garter snakes in private hands. People often mistake the California red-sided garter snake for a San Francisco garter snake. Gallery. Luckily though, the San Francisco garter snake is protected, both by the state and federal government. This means that they are in danger of dying out. Over the years, their population has dropped so much, it’s hard to make an accurate count of how many are left. Juvenile San Francisco garter snakes will prey heavily on Pacific treefrog (Pseudacris regilla) metamorphs. The San Francisco garter snake is often considered a specialist on ranid frogs, and California red-legged frogs are a major component of the diet of adult snakes in many locations. This subspecies of the garter snake is found in California; residing in the wetlands of the San Francisco Peninsula and on the coast south of Año Nuevo, San Mateo County, and Waddell Creek in Santa Cruz County. They need a humidity of at least 60 percent to thrive, so provide a large water bowl that will be used for bathing and often feeding as well; change the water daily. Endangered Species Act on March 8, 1967 and in 1971, California put it down as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act. What is definitely helping the San Francisco Garter Snake is legally protected habitat space, because of many reasons. Currently, San Francisco garter snake’s are found only in a few isolated locations within their former range. Stripes Other striped snakes live in California which may resemble gartersnakes. The SF garter snake is often called the most beautiful snake … This means that they are in danger of dying out. Fortunately, the government decided to act and limited construction, legally protected valuable habitat space, and passed laws on ownership and loaning the snake, which positivity effected the garter snake's population in several ways. (Environmental Proposal)-Tipping Tides on the Rise, (Environmental Annotated Bibliography)-Implications of Sea Level Rise, (Environmental Essay First Draft)-Pass the Breaking Point, (Environmental Essay Final Draft)-Pass the Breaking Point. My outdoor terrarium, March 25th, 2010. There are currently 35 species within the genus, with several subspecies within some of them. Let's compare it to its geographically nearest subspecies: California Red-sided Garter Snake T. s. infernalis (below right). Posted on February 21, 2011 by Administrator April 20, 2018. Many gartersnakes have red coloring on the sides, often with a red and black checkered pattern. But the biggest issue with the San Francisco Garter Snake remains: the bullfrog, the snake's largest problem, because it hunts the juvenile snakes so that they cant mature. Endangered. Almost as a coincidence, at about the same time, in the same area, public awareness was raised on the snake, and many people from San Francisco almost immediately began conservation efforts. Similar to other garter snakes, San Francisco garter snakes can be housed in 20-gallon terraria with a substrate of shredded aspen, loamy soil or coconut fibers. Garter Snakes for Sale. They can grow up to three feet in length and as adults can be even longer. The San Francisco garter snake, being a predator, helps keep its prey populations in balance. Activity Most California gartersnakes are active during the daytime, but sometimes they will be active at night during very hot weather. The species was listed as endangered under the U.S. As we all know, the city of San Francisco is very large, busy, and expanding at a rapid rate. Another one of these reasons is that it now has legally protected land to reproduce on, increasing the number of snakes being born. Blog #6 (Summarize a Scholarly Article)-How do you Collect the Sea? They are exposed to  harmful pesticides, dredging waterways, and are even captured and kept because of their beautiful appearance. Read a San Francisco Chronicle storyabout how one of our biologists took her 10 year-old daughter to try to find them in the wild. Read a San Francisco Chronicle story about how one of our biologists took her 10 year-old daughter to try to find them in the wild.. The SF garter snake is often called the most beautiful snake in the U.S. Because they are so beautiful, some people collect them illegally. Furthermore, the San Francisco garter snake’s population is declining due to competition over food. They are at the San Francisco Zoo. If the city continued to expand in the direction that it was and at that rate, by sometime from 1995 to 2005 (at maximum), the garter snake's population would of been killed completely. This subspecies of the garter snake is found in California; residing in the wetlands of the San Francisco Peninsula and on the coast south of Año Nuevo, San… The garter snake is abundant in the eastern United States; it is the state reptile of Massachusetts.While no snakes are known to be native of Alaska, a road-killed specimen of a garter snake … For more information, check out How It Works. Endangered. Some of the reasons that the San Francisco garter snake is endangered is due to habitat loss from agricultural, commercial, and urban development. These snakes have a slender, bluish-turquoise body, an orange head, and spots of black, red, and orange running on its back. 3785days since Endagered Species Due Date, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. Gallery. Garter snake is a common name for the generally harmless, small to medium-sized snakes belonging to the genus Thamnophis. Here is our list of available garter snakes for sale at incredibly low prices. Female San Francisco garter snake Dubbed as the most beautiful snake in North America, the San Francisco garter snake is one of the world’s many endangered species. San Francisco Garter Snake STATUS. Dubbed as the most beautiful snake in North America, the San Francisco garter snake is one of the world’s many endangered species. As we all know, the city of San Francisco is very large, busy, and expanding at a rapid rate. Other Facts. (Summary below adapted from text by from Don Roberson) It is also interesting to consider the evolution and taxonomy of San Francisco Garter Snake (below left). The San Francisco Garter Snake has been christened “the most beautiful serpent in North America” (Miller, 2009). The San Francisco Garter Snake's existence is in great peril, but due to drastic protective laws, legally protected habitat space, and conservationist's efforts, the San Francisco Garter Snake might recover back to a healthy population in the near future. The estimated population is around 1000 or 2000 of these beautiful snakes. For example, sometimes the California red-sided garter snake … The main competitor being the non-native bullfrogs, which prey on the snake’s main diet, the California red-legged frogs, and even the snakes themselves. The San Francisco Garter Snake in the wild! Endangered. Garter Snakes for Sale in the United States. Otherns have a variation of light and dark checkering on the sides. One of these reasons is that it has sufficient hunting land now, and more land to hide in, making it less vulnerable to predators.