Exploring The Threatened Maritime Garter Snake: Unique Adaptations And Conservation Challenges
Inhabiting saltmarshes and coastal prairies along the Northwestern United States Pacific Coast, the maritime garter snake is a solitary and secretive serpent with a threatened conservation status. Its unique adaptations to brackish water and salt tolerance set it apart from other garter snake species. As a primary predator in estuarine ecosystems, it feeds on frogs, toads, and mice. However, habitat loss from urban development, agriculture, and sea level rise, as well as pollution and climate change, pose significant threats to the survival of this coastal dweller.
