Video segment on radix conservation.

[gregmonsta]

Hey guys snakebytes tv have a short section on how the Ohio zoo is working on supplementing their endangered radix population with their CB breeding programme - YouTube - SnakeBytesTV "Crazy Eyes"

[guidofatherof5]

Cool, save the radixes. I'm in. I could spare them a couple hundred babies for release.
What's hard to believe is the fact they are endangered at all. I'm got them coming out of my ears here.

[ConcinusMan]

Endangered in the State. In other words, it's in danger of being extirpated, not extinct.

Same goes for Rubber Boas in WA. They can be as common as garter snakes in other states such as Oregon especially, but in WA they are protected as a "threatened" species due to the alarming rate of habitat loss, low reproduction rate, and their seemingly inability to adapt to disturbed areas. Over 3 decades of herping in Clark Co. WA, I have only found 3. Ringneck snakes have already been extirpated from my county, but recently unconfirmed sightings are becoming more frequent. I had read before that Plains garters are endangered in Ohio as there is only one small area and a shrinking population.

I have put some ads on craigslist to try to get an idea where Ringneck snakes have been spotted. I'm hoping to confirm a population in my county next summer, and if that happens, talk to someone at the Dept. of Wildlife and the University of WA and see if we can't help them along, or at least protect them from disturbance.

[guidofatherof5]

I've contacted the Zoo(email) and offered them as many of my radix babies as they would like. I know they would probably like a bred gene pool from there own area but I figured it wouldn't hurt to offer.

[ConcinusMan]

I'm pretty sure they are aware of the millions, if not billions of other radix's out there. I too would bet that they are trying to save their radix's by relying on the local specific gene pool. But you're right. Never hurts to offer, and it certainly wouldn't hurt you to part with a few (hundred) Lol.

Personally, I wouldn't mind having one of the offspring from your wild-caught albino. 100% het for albino is well.. 100% OK with me. Besides that, I'm getting the impression that they are very lovable. (and still, I have to wonder how many are in that immediate area that are het for albino)

[wolfpacksved]

radix were never abundant in Ohio. Very little suitable habitat. It is nice to know that people are doing what they can to save the radix in Ohio. Indiana has a few in the northwestern corner of the state, northern Illinois produces a decent amount. After herping these areas I have only found radix in cities and other urban areas. I have never found radix in remote areas; at least within their eastern-most range limits.

[ConcinusMan]

Interesting ^^^. when I first moved to WA our neighborhood was on the eastern edge limits of development so there were plenty of ordinoides to be found in yards around the neighborhood. In fact, every spring there were piles of them breeding in my backyard. Even found a rubber boa in my yard one morning. My point is, once we were no longer on the fringes, and everything developed further east, all the snakes disappeared, so just the opposite happens around here. You can find snakes usually only in areas that aren't developed, or are on the edges of undeveloped areas. And of course, concinnus is only found around creeks, rivers, ponds, wetlands, etc.

[guidofatherof5]

Here's the response I got from the Zoo. This is from the Zoo employee featured in the video.

Thank you for your inquiry about our work with Thamnophis radix here in Ohio. The Ohio population of Plains garter snakes is geographically isolated from the rest of the species’ range and is genetically distinct from the closest populations in Illinois and Indiana. Part of our recovery goal for the Ohio population is to maintain this genetic distinctiveness. So unfortunately, we would not be able to utilize your Iowa snakes for our recovery work, but thank you very much for your interest.

[guidofatherof5]

Here's the response I got from the Zoo. This is from the Zoo employee featured in the video.

Thank you for your inquiry about our work with Thamnophis radix here in Ohio. The Ohio population of Plains garter snakes is geographically isolated from the rest of the species’ range and is genetically distinct from the closest populations in Illinois and Indiana. Part of our recovery goal for the Ohio population is to maintain this genetic distinctiveness. So unfortunately, we would not be able to utilize your Iowa snakes for our recovery work, but thank you very much for your interest.

I also have an email into the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources. I think the results will be the same. If things get bad enough they may consider out sourcing their radixes. If that happens maybe I can help after all.

[ConcinusMan]

Pretty much what I thought. Very cool of him to respond so quickly.