Last July, a zoo in Tennessee welcomed the birth of the rarest snake in the United States. This snake is not only the rarest in the country but is also widely recognized as the rarest across North America.
The Memphis Zoo recently revealed the successful hatching of a Louisiana pine snake, marking a milestone as it emerged from one of 114 eggs— the highest number ever recorded in a single breeding season at the zoo.
Over the next year, the zoo will nurture the snake and its future hatchlings. Beyond the Memphis Zoo, the Audubon Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, and many other zoos actively participate in captive breeding programs.
Critically endangered, the Louisiana pine snake faces the threat of extinction. Over the past 40 years, the Memphis Zoo has dedicated itself to conserving this species and strives to protect it for future generations.
Through extensive research, we have made significant contributions to understanding this species. We were the first to publish data on its distinctive reproductive biology and promoted the snake to full species status,” the zoo stated on its website.
Due to their low reproductive rate, Louisiana pine snakes face challenges in growing their population.
Beyond the Memphis Zoo, the Audubon Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, and many other zoos actively participate in captive breeding programs. A recent Facebook post features a brief video of the latest member of the snake family at the Memphis Zoo.
The Louisiana pine snake, which lives in western Louisiana and eastern Texas, produces the largest eggs and hatchlings among U.S. snakes. Growing up to five feet long, its brown, black, and russet coloring provides excellent camouflage in its natural habitat.
People rarely see these elusive reptiles in the wild because they spend most of their time underground. Their diet mainly consists of pocket gophers, but they also feed on other small rodents, amphibians, and ground-nesting bird eggs
The Louisiana pine snake is most threatened by the loss of open forest habitats due to logging and urban expansion.
Several organizations, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), actively work to prevent the species’ extinction. This agency collaborates with private landowners in Louisiana and Texas to enhance and expand the snake’s habitat.
Restoration efforts will span 5,000 acres of land, reintroducing longleaf pine trees to establish a suitable habitat for the snakes.
To boost tree growth, conservation will include controlled burns and herbicide use to control woody shrubs.
Creating a lush environment rich in vegetation benefits more than just snakes; it also supports a variety of other wildlife. Species like the Eastern wild turkey, red-cockaded woodpecker, Northern bobwhite quail, and Henslow’s sparrow will flourish in such a habitat.
We hope efforts will save the snake from being listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
