Snake populations plummeting all over the world

[Eldritch]

Western whip snakes are among the species in decline

Snake populations plummet

Could snakes worldwide be going the same way as frogs and fish? A study of 11 snake species in locations across the UK, France, Italy, Nigeria, and Australia suggests that snake populations may be suffering a widespread decline.

Christopher Reading of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and an international team aggregated data on snake populations from past studies, including surveys that they carried out themselves. They found that 11 of the 17 populations of snakes studied plummeted between 1998 and 2002, and remained low until the studies ended in 2008 and 2009. Five populations were stable, with one increasing slightly.

The crash was seen in the UK, France, Italy and Nigeria, with females more seriously affected than males. The causes of these steep declines are unknown, but the team believes they reflect a change in the quality of habitats, such as a growing shortage of appropriate ground cover, or less abundant prey. Worryingly, half of the species in parks and reserves suffered sharp declines.

The number of regions for which the researchers have long-term data is limited, so they cannot yet prove that they are witnessing a global decline. "We want to flag up what we think may be happening so that other snake researchers can start looking at their data and see whether they've got similar patterns," says Reading.

Journal reference: Biology Letters, DOI: 10.1098/rsbl20100373

Link.

[The Ripper]

A lot of people in our older generations we're taught to kill snakes on sight. Like my Grandma.

[Beorn]

Snake populations plummet

Good.

[Daos]

A lot of people in our older generations we're taught to kill snakes on sight. Like my Grandma.

It is the same here. For some reason people go berserk whenever they see a snake, no matter how small...

Snakes eat rodents, by killing the snakes you help rodents prosper - is that really something a farmer would want? Oh, but I guess using rodenticides is so much better.

[anonymaus]

Once a flag is raised on something like this, we have a pretty solid worldwide community which will coalesce around the issue. That's why we have things like Conservation Status.

[Eldritch]

Good.

No, it isn't, because snakes are typically pretty high up on the food chain, regardless of the species or the ecosystem they inhabit. Their numbers suddenly decreasing radically in numerous parts of the world is very worrying.

[Beorn]

No, it isn't, because snakes are typically pretty high up on the food chain, regardless of the species or the ecxosystem they inhabit. Their numbers suddenly decreasing radically in numerous parts of the world is very worrying.

It is to me.

The amount of times I used to run across the things as a child was frightening. I often shouted at God for not making me born an Irishman.

In all seriousness though I couldn't care less for them. Terrible thing to say I know, but my fear and hatred for them far outweighs my urge to preserve animals and eco-systems.

[Murphy]

Good. Read the bible. Snakes are bad.

[Eldritch]

Terrible thing to say I know, but my fear and hatred for them far outweighs my urge to preserve animals and eco-systems.

Well at least you're honest and unapologetic about it. I won't try to ram things you've no interest in down your throat, but you do realise that you. too, are a part of an ecosystem?

[The Lawspeaker]

That bastard Saint Patrick has returned...