Two critically endangered New Mexico river snake species have been the subject of lawsuits filed by conservation groups challenging the reduction of habitat set aside by the federal government for the recovery of both species.
The narrowhead garter snake and northern Mexican garter snake inhabit the riverbeds of southern Arizona and New Mexico along the Gila River.
They were listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2014. This means an endangered species list is expected as the animal nears extinction, and officials have proposed protecting 420,000 acres of habitat in both states for recovery.
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The Center for Biological Diversity was planned for the narrow-headed garter snake, 93% of the approximately 421,000 acres originally proposed for the garter snake in northern Mexico, with the service’s final Critical Habitat designation. Claimed 91% area reduction from 210,000 acres.
This means only 20,236 acres for garter snakes in northern Mexico and 23,785 acres for narrow-headed garter snakes.
The Center argued that although snakes rely on such land for breeding and refuge, smaller habitats were excluded and proposed temporary or transitory streams.
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In its lawsuit, the Center argued that it chose to exclude the unoccupied portion of the snake’s range.
“The service achieved this objective in two steps: first, by declaring thousands of acres with recent evidence of the existence of species ‘unoccupied’; For the purposes of designation, we have declared that all habitats that are said to be unoccupied are excluded from the table. Neither step is consistent with law or science,” the complaint reads.
Currently protected land includes 46 miles of the Gila River in southwestern New Mexico, 71 miles of the San Francisco River, a tributary of the Gila River also in the area, and 52 miles of the Blue River, a tributary of the San Francisco River in eastern New Mexico. included miles. Arizona.
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An additional 20 miles of the Tularosa River in Catron County, New Mexico and 27 miles of the Verde River in southern Arizona were set aside for snake recovery.
But that’s not enough, said Robin Silver of the Center for Biodiversity, arguing that species are increasingly threatened by livestock grazing and mining, in addition to worsening drought in the region.
She said limiting human activity along the river would restore struggling water supplies and protect species like the garter snake.
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“Protecting the rivers that disappeared animals depend on benefits snakes, fish, birds, amphibians, and mammals, including humans,” Silver said. “It’s taken too long to protect these snakes, but destroying their habitat is a blow they won’t survive.
“These rivers and temporary waters need to be protected and restored so that these snakes can continue to swim and thrive.”
The center originally petitioned the Federal Wildlife Manager to list the snake under the Endangered Species Act in 2003, and filed multiple lawsuits prior to its listing nearly 11 years later.
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Silver said the decline in critical habitat is a response to pressures from industries such as agriculture that strain rivers and threaten the habitats needed by snakes.
“Federal biologists are abandoning their duty to protect these species by giving them enough habitat to survive and recover,” said Silver. “At a time when so many species are facing extinction, it is disappointing to see them bow to pressure from ranchers and other stakeholders, including state and federal agencies.
“Endangered species like these rare aquatic snakes will disappear forever if we don’t protect the places they need to live.”
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During consideration of a proposal to list the northern Mexican garter snake in 2008, the Arizona Cattle Producers Association opposed the listing in a public comment submitted, stating that listing would require too much water supply to the garter. It thwarted the agricultural industry, which the association claimed was providing snake.
After reading then-President Tom Chilton’s comments, being on the list would discourage ranchers from providing water tanks to wild animals.
“Our livestock industry provides the garter snakes of Arizona with the bulk of their perennial water sources,” writes Chilton. “The decision to list this animal without adequate analysis could put the snake’s presence at risk due to increased regulations that may discourage ranchers from maintaining and/or increasing numbers of stockwater tanks. There is a possibility
“The economic impact on the livestock industry of the decision to list snakes is significant.”
The U.S. Forest Service noted some human impacts on garter snakes in its comments to the proposal, pointing to improper grazing, over-gathering, and non-native species competing with snakes for food.
Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com, or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.
