Corwin on Conservation: Giant Gartersnake

corwin on consErvaTIon

Species: Giant Gartersnake

giant gartersnake conservation challenges The most significant threat to giant gartersnake survival is habitat loss and degradation, over 90% of historic wetland habitat has been lost or fragmented due to land conversion for human development.

Climate change also has a large potential to affect the giant gartersnake’s survival. Because they are so dependent on aquatic habitat, prolonged drought can reduce the amount of water in natural wetlands as well as water available for managed marshes and rice agriculture. Further complications can occur if farmers are either not allotted water rights to grow rice in particular years or if they choose to grow crops other than rice either due to drought or other reasons.