Reptile & Amphibian Forums

it seems that I have a plethora of San Francisco garter snakes living on my property and was wondering what I do? i understand its illegal to catch them, keep them or sell them none of which I want anyway.. I want to insure their survival... how may obatain a goverment grant? whom do I seek out? the fish and game commission?

thank you

I would notify Fish and Game if I was really concerned. Do you live near some wilderness areas or are you surrounded by other homes?

Example: I live next to a swamp so I would put a drift fence to mitigate them going into my neighbors yard where they would be killed, as well as a drift to mitigate them going onto the road where they might be hit be a vehicle. One of my friends has done that at his house for any snake in his yard.

Don't know if you could do that though because SFGs are protected based on what I inferred from your post.

Now if you do notify the Fish and Game commission there is a chance that they may catch and remove the SFGs to a different habitat where they have more range and are not as likely to encounter people. I wouldn't be too worried about that though because that strikes me as the "too much trouble" category for government organizations. Now if you DO want them to be in a safer area, you could ask F&G for permission or a grant to move them to a safer area that is suitable, though you may or may not be permitted.

However if you have found a lot around your house, chances are they are doing just fine there. Fish and Game might appreciate some documentation of them though, I know the Florida FWC likes to know when residents find Indigo Snakes, Pine Snakes, and Southern Hognose Snakes.

Where do you live and do you have any photos of the snakes?

Tim

Cuddos to you for your attitude to preserving that species. I would start with fish and game, and hopefully they can put you in touch with someone in academia that would be interested and willing to work with you on a project or study.
Best of luck
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Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com