Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
3.8.1.3 Snakes There are 40 species of snakes native to North Carolina. Snakes can be found from the mountains to the coast, but the highest diversity and the most imperiled species occur in the Sandhills and Coastal Plain. There are 10 species listed for federal and state protection: two are listed as federal and state endangered, two are listed as federal and state threatened, and six are listed as state special concern. Most species are quite secretive. Some remain abundant (e.g., Eastern Worm Snake), while others are becoming increasingly rare (e.g., Northern Pine Snake). Six snake species in the state are venomous, including three species of rattlesnakes, the Eastern Cottonmouth, Copperhead, and Eastern Coral Snake. Inventory, monitoring, and surveys for reptile species are carried out across the state, covering both historical and newly identified sites. These efforts have resulted in new occurrence records for numerous reptile species, such as the Timber Rattlesnake, Corn Snake, Mole Kingsnake, and others. Some species, including the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Southern Hognose Snake, and Northern Pine Snake, receive additional focus through more intensive surveys, research, and monitoring alongside routine passive surveys. 3.8.1.4 Turtles North Carolina is home to 21 species of turtles, ranging from the terrestrial Eastern Box Turtle to numerous aquatic species, five sea turtles, and the estuarine Diamondback Terrapin. There are 12 species listed for federal and state protection: three are federal and state listed as endangered, three are federal and state listed as threatened, and six are state listed as special concern. Some species, like the Yellow-bellied Slider, are generalists, using a wide variety of wetland habitats and as such, are common throughout the state. Others, such as the Bog Turtle, are highly specialized, relying on very specific habitat types, and are, accordingly, quite rare and difficult to find. The natural history and distribution of some species have been extremely well- studied, while others are in need of increased survey, research, and monitoring work. • Bog Turtles are the smallest turtle in North America. There are two distinct United States population segments: one in the Northeast (MD to New England) and one in the Southeast (GA to VA). In North Carolina, Bog Turtles have been found in 22 counties along the western edge of the Piedmont and Mountain ecoregions. Their habitats include scattered, small, grassy, herbaceous, spring-fed wetlands with little canopy and soft mucky substrates, and small riparian systems, often associated with pastureland or open fields (Somers et al. 2007) . Roughly 75% of all Bog Turtle habitat in the Southeast is located on private lands, making partnerships with private landowners an integral component of conservation efforts for this species (Herman 2003) . Project Bog Turtle is a North Carolina Herpetological Society conservation initiative supported by numerous state, federal, and private partners. The initiative supports inventory surveys,
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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