ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT PROFILE

PROTECTION STATUS: Threatened

YEAR PLACED ON LIST: 2014

RANGE: From southeastern Arizona to Oaxaca, Mexico; may also be found along the Agua Fria, Oak Creek, and Verde rivers, and along some parts of the Salt and Black rivers

THREATS: Destruction, modification, and deterioration of habitat; disappearance of native prey; and spread of nonnative predator species

POPULATION TREND: Population trends clearly demonstrate that the Mexican garter snake is declining in the United States — many populations show negative trends, low densities, and the possibility of extirpation. There may be only a few hundred snakes present in the United States, and current trends for the Mexican garter snake in the country can be expected to continue. Although little is known about the snake in Mexico, population decline can be expected there as well, since similar threats are present.

Photo by Phil Rosen