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California Governor Gavin Newsom has officially designated the giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) as the official California’s state snake, signing Senate Bill 765 into law. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks), aims to draw critical attention to the species’ precarious status.
The decision is a significant step toward conservation, acknowledging the steep decline in the snake’s population. Over the last century, the giant garter snake population has plummeted by more than 90%, leading to its listing as threatened under both the California Endangered Species Act (1971) and the Federal Endangered Species Act (1993).
Thamnophis gigas — An Exclusive Resident of the Central Valley
The giant garter snake is endemic to California, exclusively inhabiting the state’s Central Valley, with its range extending from Butte County in the north to Kern County in the south.
It is one of the largest members of the Thamnophis genus, capable of growing over five feet in length. The snake features an olive-to-brown coloration, distinguished by a yellow or orange stripe that runs down its back, complemented by two lighter stripes along its sides.
The snake’s habitat is confined to the edges of large flood basins, freshwater marshes, and tributaries in the Central Valley. Crucially, it has also adapted to inhabit agricultural wetlands, including rice fields and the associated irrigation and drainage canals. However, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, only about five percent of its historical wetland acreage remains.
This diurnal (daytime active) reptile primarily preys on small fish, tadpoles, and frogs. Its survival is severely threatened by:
- Habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation.
- Invasive aquatic plants.
- Climate change impacts, such as drought and severe flooding.
By naming Thamnophis gigas the state snake, California hopes to raise public awareness and mobilize further efforts to protect this essential, yet highly endangered, part of its natural heritage.
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