EU adds kingsnakes to list of invasive species
After many years of debate, Lampropeltis getula was added to the EU List of Invasive Species earlier this month.
A Californian kingsnake (L. californiae)
The Californian kingsnake (L. californiae), has had a considerable impact on the ecology of the Canary Islands since they were accidentally introduced back in the 1990s. Concern about the number of kingsnakes on the island of Gran Canaria grew in 2007 and prompted various studies on the species’ invasive potential. Since then, numbers have increased drastically and there are now thousands of Californian kingsnakes occupying the islands.
The Canary Islands are located off the West Coast of Africa. They are volcanic islands, with plenty of hiding opportunities for terrestrial/fossorial predators like kingsnakes. With a very mild climate, like the Western USA (L. californiae’s native range), the snakes have thrived. They pose a risk to almost anything small enough to fit in their mouths, as well as the ecology of an already fragile set of islands. The ecological impact has been greater due to the absence of native apex predators. Because of this, prey species are predator-naïve, although other introduced species such as cats and rats will have an even greater impact due to their higher numbers and wider distribution across the island.
For years, lobbyists have fought for and against adding this species to the EU List of Invasive Species. The ban would effectively prohibit breeding and trading animals in all EU member states, despite most of them not having favourable conditions for the animals to survive, and none of them replicating the unique set of environmental conditions found on the Canary Islands. For example, it will be illegal for northern European countries like Germany, to breed or trade a kingsnake, because the species can thrive on an island off the coast of Africa (which is not part of the EU), just because it is owned by Spain.
Despite years of counter arguments, the kingsnake L. getula and all its former subspecies including L. californiae were added to the list on the 2nd August 2022. The implementation of this annex will ensue 24 months later, on the same date in 2024.
Kingsnakes have been kept successfully and in large numbers by European herpetoculturists since the 1980s, with estimates of over 100,000 animals across the EU. Currently, there is no recorded impact on any European country. There are fears the new listing may push trade underground, especially as most breeders have carved a livelihood from their hobby (sometimes for 40+ years). Kingsnakes, whilst less popular than corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) represent a good portion of ‘pet’ snakes, which might also impact keepers’ ability to rehome animals and compromise welfare. There are also fears that keepers may release pet snakes rather than face euthanising them, increasing the risk of ecological impact that these regulations are supposed to avoid.
Following Brexit, new additions to the EU List of Invasive Species will not be automatically added to the GB list. Instead, a decision should be made based on the species’ invasive potential in the UK. Because Northern Ireland is part of the UK, but not part of GB, they will have to list this species from the 2nd August. Whilst GB lobbyists remain hopeful that the ban is unlikely to reach England, Scotland and Wales, it is not out of the realms of possibility. REPTA (the Reptile and Exotic Pet Trade Association) will be working to ensure that UK authorities are aware of the biological characteristics of the species.