Lower Columbia Reptile At-Risk Conservation Project

This is the fourth year of a project that targets the North American Racer, a snake species-at-risk in the Lower Columbia. Through radio telemetry, summer and winter habitat use will be determined, in order to conserve racers and other reptiles at-risk in the area, including Northern Rubber Boas and Western Skinks. In 2016, with a partnership between various partners, an outdoor education event will be held at Beaver Creek Provincial Park. It will highlight the importance of the local ecosystem and unique species that live there.

In addition to benefiting the target reptile species-at-risk, the project will also result in increased:

1. knowledge and conservation of habitat features critical to local reptiles-at-risk;
2. habitat protection and potential restoration/creation of additional hibernacula;
3. conservation of non-target native reptiles that share habitat with target species;
4. local awareness and stewardship, targeting local species-at-risk and their habitat through collaboration with local conservation groups and schools;
5. local government, industrial and land-manager awareness and cooperation regarding local conservation; and
6. local appreciation for the unique ecosystem and species that live there.

Local Racer snakes face conservation challenges.