A Facebook page has been created to get a sense of the extent of the garter snake population on the island.
Garter snakes are an invasive species likely introduced to the west coast area through bails of hay brought in from the mainland, or through pets intentionally released into the wild.
Snakes have been present on the province’s west coast for some time, concentrated mainly in the area of St. David’s.
Researcher with Mount Allison and Laurentian University, Andrea Gigeroff created the Facebook page Newfoundland Snake Sightings to get a sense of the extent of the invasive species and they impact they’ve having on the local ecosystem.
(Photo via Brenda White)
Gigeroff says the presence of garter snakes could be either devastating or beneficial.
She says it depends on whether or not the snakes are preying on American toads, another invasive species which is proliferating on the island, or whether they are preying on native animals. Gigeroff says more research is required.
