Environmentalists aim to help San Francisco’s ‘beautiful’ snake make a comeback

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The Bay Area has its own native snake, the San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia). Some snake enthusiasts consider it to be one of the most “beautiful” snakes on Earth, environmentalists said.

Wild San Francisco garter snakes live only in the Bay Area, and nowhere else in the world. The species has been federally listed as endangered for more than 50 years.

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A new project launched by several agencies is focusing on repopulating habitats around the bay, including Golden Gate National Recreation Area, with the colorful creatures.

Project partners include the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen), San Francisco Zoo, United States Geological Survey (USGS), National Park Service (NPS), Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.

After USGS biologists collected pregnant females from the wild, the San Francisco Zoo’s conservation team reared about 120 neonate snakes this year at the zoo.

The baby snakes will be released in 2026 when they reach a large enough size to evade predators. Their mothers returned home to the wild earlier this September.

“Often conservation starts at the local level — in our own backyards — and the story of the snake’s decline due to urbanization, pollution, loss of prey and habitat loss, should resonate with all of us,” Dr. Rochelle Stiles with SF Zoo wrote in a statement. “This is the first time the SF Zoo is rearing this species for release to help bolster the snakes in key habitats.”

Historically, the slithery reptiles lived throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. They are a subspecies of the common garter snake.

“The San Francisco garter snake is truly on the brink of extinction, and was recognized before the Endangered Species Act even existed. Fortunately, it’s not too late for them. Together, we are acting as their life support,” said Midpen biologist Ariel Starr.