The northern Mexican gartersnake, first listed as threatened in 2014, inhabits riparian and aquatic habitats in western, central, and southeastern Arizona. Like many aquatic and semi-aquatic native species in Arizona, this gartersnake faces threats from habitat loss, altered hydrologic regimes, and invasive, non-native species. The northern Mexican gartersnake was once widespread and abundant, but population declines since the 1980s have limited the species to mainly small, isolated populations, with only a couple locally abundant populations.
In response to the population trends, AZGFD is working with multiple partners, including USFWS, USFS, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and private researchers and volunteers to rear and release captive-born snakes back into the wild. Nationally, there are very few examples of snake reintroductions, and little is known about the survivorship and success rates of these conservation efforts. Since 2018, multiple releases have been conducted in the Huachuca Mountains of southeastern Arizona and at Horseshoe Ranch, a AZGFD property north of Phoenix. During routine post-release surveys in 2020, released snakes were found at the Huachuca Mountains site. This is the first time captive-born northern Mexican gartersnakes have been recaptured in the wild, and provides strong evidence that reintroductions may help bolster this species’ recovery.
By the Numbers:
Project partners maintain 12 captive snakes which have produced more than 120 captive-born offspring
12 snakes were released into the Huachuca Mountains
54 snakes were released into Horseshoe Ranch