Please join the Orcas Island Public Library for Snake Studies and Sharp-tails on the San Juan Islands, a presentation by Herpetologist Christian Oldham.
Christian is a staff associate with Kwiáht, a recipient of the Save The Snakes Pacific States Grant Program, and the lead researcher for Kwiáht’s Name the Snake! Campaign.
Christian will discuss Kwiáht’s ongoing snake research, particularly those on the rare and endemic Sharp-tailed Snake (Contia tenuis).
Sharp-tailed Snakes, which occur along the West Coast and British Columbia, are state-listed as one of Washington’s “Species of Greatest Conservation Need,” as well as a “Priority Species” under the state’s Wildlife Priority Habitat and Species Program. This species is small (usually less than a foot long) and spends much of the year underground, making them a rare find and a challenge to study. As such, there are numerous gaps in our knowledge of the species – gaps that Kwiáht researchers are hoping to address by studying our island populations.
San Juan Island and Orcas Island are home to two of the most actively-studied populations in Washington. Kwiáht Herpetologist Christian Oldham is documenting the seasonal activities of both populations, and both prey and snake DNA samples are being analyzed at Kwiaht’s Lopez Island laboratory.
The main goals of this research are to investigate the ecology of our island populations, including prey identification and the degree of “relatedness” between island populations and mainland snakes.
Christian’s presentation is free, open to all ages, and made possible by the generous support of the Mount Baker Group of the Sierra Club Washington Chapter as well as Kwiáht’s donors. Islanders that would like to support Kwiaht’s campaign by naming a snake can visit www.kwiaht.org/snakes.htm.
Free wooden snakes will be gifted to kids in attendance from Friends of the Orcas Island Library (while supplies last).
PHOTO CREDIT: Bill Bouton
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