Friday, June 27
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Scientists are worried endangered native snakes could be displaced by two types of non-native species that have become prevalent in the Sacramento area.
The Sacramento Bee reported Thursday (http://bit.ly/1jrpaPF ) that the common water snake is thriving in Roseville and the southern water snake has colonies in Folsom.
Jonathan Rose, a doctoral candidate in ecology at UC Davis, says common water snakes have spread across the Eastern U.S., but are rarely found west of the Rocky Mountains. Rose is author of a new study on the pervasiveness of the invasive species.
Research shows water snakes are well suited to the habitat traditionally occupied by the giant garter snake — a species once plentiful in California but now on the state's threatened species list.
The giant garters are in direct competition with the invasive snakes for food.
Information from: The Sacramento Bee, http://www.sacbee.com