Aww! Teeny Child Snakes Launched to the Wild

The ACNC/Phoenix Zoo welcomed three litters of narrow-headed gartersnakes in August. Picture credit score: Phoenix Zoo.

In mid-to-late August, the Arizona Middle for Nature Conservation (ACNC)/Phoenix Zoo welcomed three litters of narrow-headed gartersnakes.

This was pleased information as a result of narrow-headed gartersnakes are thought of threatened beneath the US Endangered Species Act.

Tiny child gartersnake. Picture credit score: Phoenix Zoo.

To assist bolster their declining populations, the ACNC/Phoenix Zoo have been breeding narrow-headed gartersnakes and releasing them to the wild.

In September, they efficiently launched 25 child gartersnakes. That makes a complete of 98 gartersnakes they’ve launched because the begin of their program!

Certainly one of 25 child narrow-headed gartersnakes launched to the wild in September. Picture credit score: Phoenix Zoo.

To assist determine the snakes after they’re launched to the wild, the zoo marked every snake with a visible implant elastomer tag that fluoresces beneath black gentle.

Having the ability to monitor the snakes after launch helps the scientists know if the breeding program is working.

“Once we launched into this partnership with the Phoenix Zoo, we had no concept whether or not breeding narrow-headed gartersnakes in human care and releasing their offspring to the wild would work,” mentioned Dr. Thomas Jones, Amphibians and Reptiles Program Supervisor for Arizona Recreation and Fish Division.

“Now we all know that it does work, and we are able to foresee this strategy turning into an integral a part of future restoration efforts.”

Heading off to start out a brand new life within the wild. Picture credit score: Phoenix Zoo.

For extra info, go to the Phoenix Zoo web site.