Sharp-tailed Snake
Sharp-tailed Snake (Contia tenuis)
This snake is small (adults are 20 to 30 cm long and the thickness of a pencil) and harmless, like all snakes on Vancouver Island. It requires south-facing, rocky areas (such as inland cliffs and bluffs) in Coastal Douglas fir forests, particularly for nursery sites. The snake occurs here at the northern limit of its range, and is threatened by habitat loss and degradation. It is considered critically imperiled and is on the provincial Red List (the highest risk category).
A primary habitat for the sharp-tailed snake is the Department of National Defense Rifle Range lands, and the Partridge Hills just north of this area. Research on the snake is ongoing in this area.
Additional Information & Links
- Sharp-tailed snake: Wildlife in BC at Risk (PDF
) - Natural History of the sharp-tailed snake on the Gulf Islands (PDF )
© Image courtesy of Steve Ryan
