Sixty-two zoo-raised San Francisco garter snakes released into the wild
The release follows a conservation programme that began in 2025 to protect the rare reptile species through head-starting.
Sixty-two young San Francisco garter snakes were released into the wild across San Mateo County, California, officials announced on November 10, 2026. According to the Times of India, the release is the result of a conservation initiative involving the San Francisco Zoo, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.
The project began in 2025 when biologists from the US Geological Survey collected pregnant female snakes from a healthy wild population. The females were brought to the San Francisco Zoo to give birth in a controlled environment, after which the mothers were returned to their original habitat.
The zoo's conservation team raised the newborns using a head-starting approach to improve their survival chances against predators and food competition. Before their release, each snake underwent genetic testing to determine where they would have the most impact. One-third were returned to the original collection areas, while the rest were distributed to other populations to increase genetic diversity.
The San Francisco garter snake was listed as endangered under the US Endangered Species Act on March 11, 1967. The US Fish and Wildlife Service stated that habitat destruction, fragmentation, drought, reduced food availability, and illegal collection threaten the species.
The San Francisco Zoo has already welcomed more than 130 additional baby snakes in 2026. Another release is planned for 2027, as scientists monitor the current group to see how they adapt to their surroundings.