PHOENIX – To help protect and recover the narrow-headed gartersnake, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated critical habitat for the species. Critical habitat helps federal agencies focus their conservation activities in areas that are essential to the listed species. This species was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2014.
The critical habitat designation includes approximately 23,785 acres in Greenlee, Apache, Yavapai, Gila and Coconino counties in Arizona, and Grant, Hidalgo and Catron counties in New Mexico.
In 2020, the Service published a revised critical habitat proposal for the narrow-headed gartersnake, which included a considerable reduction in acreage. This final rule reflects a net increase of approximately 5,085 acres from the revised proposal to include expanded terrestrial areas along streams to better capture hibernation habitat used by the species. The Service excluded a total of 508 acres of Tribal lands that already include conservation plans for the gartersnake.
Narrow-headed gartersnake populations have declined primarily from interactions with predatory, non-native species such as crayfish and warm water sportfish. These non-native species compete with and prey upon both the gartersnakes themselves and their native prey species, causing both mortality of gartersnakes and starvation of individuals. Drought and large-scale wildfires that diminish surface water or degrade streamside vegetation are also significant threats, particularly where they occur in the presence of non-native species.
Critical habitat designations affect only federal agency actions or federally funded or permitted activities. For development to occur in these areas that may affect a listed species, federal agencies must consult with the Service first.
Healthy, native aquatic ecosystems contain some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the Southwest. Their protection and conservation is critical to both people and many other species of aquatic insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, waterfowl and wildlife. Efforts to protect the flow of rivers, manage threats, and encourage healthy streams that the narrow-headed gartersnake depends upon can benefit aquatic communities for future generations to enjoy.
America’s fish, wildlife and plant resources belong to all of us, and ensuring the health of imperiled species is a shared responsibility. FWS is actively engaged with conservation partners and the public in the search for improved and innovative ways to conserve and recover imperiled species. To learn more about the Endangered Species program visit our website.
Narrow-headed Gartersnake - Final Critical Habitat Rule
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What action is the US Fish and Wildlife Service taking?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has designated 23,785 acres of critical habitat for the narrow-headed gartersnake. This final designation is a net increase of approximately 5,085 acres from the revised proposed designation. The Service has also excluded a total of 508 acres of Tribal lands based on conservation plans that address special management needs of the species’ habitat.
Q: Why are these areas being protected?
This designation will help conserve areas and features essential to its recovery, help educate state and county governments and private entities about narrow-headed gartersnake conservation and recovery; and reduce the likelihood of people causing inadvertent harm to it.
Q: Where does the narrow-headed gartersnake live?
Narrow-headed gartersnakes are found in rocky stretches of canyon-bound headwater streams in the Gila River watershed of Arizona and New Mexico. They use aquatic habitat for foraging on fish and terrestrial areas along streams for thermoregulation and protection from predators.
Q: Aren’t garter snakes common? What’s endangering this snake?
Many species of gartersnake occur throughout much of North America, and gartersnakes are often a child's first exposure to reptiles in the wild. However, narrow-headed gartersnake populations have declined primarily from loss of stream habitat and interactions with predatory non-native species such as crayfish and warm water sportfish. Drought, water diversions and large-scale wildfires that diminish surface water or degrade prey are also significant threats, particularly where they co-occur in the presence of non-native species.
Collectively, these threats have reduced and isolated their populations, and those of most of their native prey species, significantly compromising its resiliency, redundancy, and representation across its range. Efforts to reduce non-native predators and restore native aquatic communities could significantly benefit the narrow-headed gartersnake and all native aquatic or riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian vertebrates throughout their range.
Q: How critical habitat impact land use and development?
This critical habitat designation identifies areas that are particularly important to the conservation of the narrow-headed gartersnake, where actions of federal agencies are analyzed to prevent adverse modification of its habitat. It does not mean no development can occur in the area, only that federal agencies must consult with the Service if they are conducting, funding, or permitting activities that may affect critical habitat for the species. Designation of critical habitat does not affect land ownership, establish a refuge or preserve, and has no impact on private landowners taking actions on their land that do not require federal funding or permits.
Q: What other benefits will this critical habitat designation have?
Healthy, native, aquatic ecosystems contain some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the Southwest. Aquatic ecosystem protection and conservation is essential to both humans and aquatic insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, waterfowl and other wildlife. This critical habitat designation will also help protect the flow of rivers and streams that the narrow-headed gartersnake depends upon, manage threats to its habitat, encourage healthy aquatic communities and preserve our unique natural heritage for future generations to enjoy.
Q: How are you working with the states on this action?
The Service will continue to work closely with Arizona Game and Fish Department and New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to address threats to the narrow-headed gartersnake and its habitat. We recognize that management of non-native sportfish is important for the states and we will continue to work with them to balance this resource with the conservation needs of the narrow-headed gartersnake.
Q: How are you working with the Tribes on this action?
The Service will continue to work closely with Tribes to address any concerns or issues related to excluding critical habitat on tribal lands. We recognize the sovereign authorities of Tribes and are committed to abiding by agreements we have, and to working with them to address their needs and the conservation needs of the narrow-headed gartersnake.
Q: Are you working with other partners on this action?
The Service works with a variety of partners on conservation efforts for the narrow-headed gartersnake. In addition to the state wildlife agencies, these partners include academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, zoos, counties and other non-federal partners.
Q: Would private landowners be impacted by this critical habitat designation?
Projects or activities that occur on private land will not be affected by designated critical habitat for the narrow-headed gartersnake unless they require a federal permit or funding. Federal projects occurring on private lands, such as those requiring a federal permit or funding, that could affect the narrow-headed gartersnake, would likely require consultation with the Service, regardless of critical habitat designation.
