Three separate projects may result in incidental take of rare snake
EDITOR’S NOTE: Wisconsin’s endangered species law (s. 29.604, Wis. Stats.) requires the Department of Natural Resources to notify the public when it proposes to authorize the incidental taking of a state endangered or threatened species.
MADISON – Three separate projects in southeastern Wisconsin may result in the "incidental taking" of the state threatened Butler’s gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri) under separate authorizations the Department of Natural Resources is proposing for the projects.
Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that does not put the overall population of the species at risk.
Butler's gartersnake
Butler's gartersnake
Photo © J. Japfer
For all three projects, conservation measures to minimize adverse effects on the Butler’s gartersnake will be incorporated into the proposed Incidental Take Authorization. Department staff concluded that the proposed projects: will minimize the impacts to the snake by adhering to conservation measures; are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence and recovery of the state population of these snakes or the whole plant-animal community of which they are a part; and have benefit to the public health, safety or welfare that justifies the action.
Copies of the jeopardy assessments and background information on the Butler’s gartersnake are available on the Incidental Take pages of the DNR Web site at or upon request from Rori Paloski, Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, (608) 264-6040. Public comments on these proposed authorizations will be taken through October 8, 2008 and should be sent to Rori Paloski at this address.
The projects include Reconstruction of Milwaukee County Parks System’s Oak Leaf Trail in Milwaukee County, a Beloit Road development project at the intersection of Beloit Road and Moreland Road in Waukesha County, and culvert and sidewalk installation associated with a Walmart construction project in Waukesha in Waukesha County.
Oak Leaf Trail
The reconstruction of Milwaukee County Parks System’s Oak Leaf Trail between West Congress Street and West Silver Spring Drive in Milwaukee and Wauwatosa will involve an area with a small amount of suitable Butler’s gartersnake habitat. Time of year restrictions and snake exclusion fencing will be used to minimize impacts to the Butler’s gartersnake.
The presence of the state-threatened Butler’s gartersnake has been confirmed in the vicinity of the project site. DNR has determined that the species is likely present due to the presence of suitable habitat and that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of some snakes.
West Beloit Road project in New Berlin
The presence of the Butler’s gartersnake has been confirmed in the vicinity of a proposed development at the northwest corner of the intersection of Beloit Road and Moreland Road in New Berlin. The project will include a small amount of wetland fill, as well as the loss of some suitable upland snake habitat. Snake fencing was placed on the site prior to snake emergence in 2008 to avoid take of the snake in the uplands. A conservation plan for the project will assure no net loss of suitable habitat per the Butler’s Gartersnake Conservation Strategy.
Wal-Mart construction project in Waukesha
Culvert and sidewalk installation associated with a Wal-Mart construction project in Waukesha will have an impact on a small portion of suitable Butler’s gartersnake habitat and the presence of the Butler’s gartersnake has been confirmed in the vicinity of the project site. The project will use snake exclusion fencing in some areas and time of year restrictions to minimize take of the snake.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Rori Paloski, DNR, Bureau of Endangered Resources, 608-264-6040 or P.O. Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707-7921.
