Home / Environment / Smarter Traps Combat Snake Invasion on Gran Canaria
Smarter Traps Combat Snake Invasion on Gran Canaria
12 Oct
Summary
- Invasive kingsnakes decimate native reptile populations on Gran Canaria.
- New traps designed to catch kingsnakes while sparing native species.
- Selective traps reduced native reptile captures by over 98% in field trials.
The California kingsnake, introduced to Gran Canaria through the pet trade in 1998, poses a significant threat to the island's native wildlife. A study published in 2021 revealed a substantial decline in all three endemic reptile species at sites where the invasive snake is present. Endemic reptile abundance was found to be more than 90% lower for Gran Canaria giant lizards, over 80% lower for the Gran Canaria skink, and over 50% lower for Boettger's wall gecko in invaded areas.
To address the unintended capture of native reptiles by conventional traps, researchers developed specialized entrance mechanisms for snake traps. These designs leverage physical and behavioral differences between the California kingsnake and native species. Field trials of these selective traps showed an impressive reduction of 98.19% in captures of the Gran Canaria giant lizard and Gran Canaria skink when compared to control traps, indicating a significant improvement in conservation efforts.
