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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has long been recognized for its innovative conservation work, much of which is rooted in strong partnerships. These collaborations are so embedded in the fabric of the agency that they are part of the Service’s mission, �... working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.�
Among the many species that have benefited from these efforts, the threatened Louisiana pinesnake stands out. Without the help of Service partners - including the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas A & M Forest Service, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), private landowners, and several accredited zoos, known collectively as the Louisiana Pinesnake Stakeholders Consortium (LPSC) - this non-venomous constrictor would be facing a different reality.
A Collaborative Response to Decline
By the 1930s, much of the longleaf pine forest in which the Louisiana pinesnake dwells had been destroyed. The remaining forest was sparse and fragmented. Facing isolation, and thus a limited gene pool, the future looked bleak for the snake.
In 1988, individuals associated with zoos noticed the population declines and launched a captive breeding program to bolster the snake’s dwindling populations. At the time, the species had not yet received federal protection. As this proactive conservation effort grew, other parties became interested, which led to the formation of the LPSC in 2003. This group continues to drive conservation efforts for the snake.
After securing wild adult pinesnakes as founders for the captive breeding program, annual reproduction became the focus. The captive population grew from 30 founders to around 150 individuals. In 2009, the LPSC initiated the reintroduction program and the team identified the Catahoula District of the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana as an ideal release site. This site was ideal because it was on public land, unoccupied by Louisiana pinesnakes at the time, contained suitable soils and pocket gophers (the Louisiana pinesnake’s primary prey), and has a lower density of roads. With the location secured, the first reintroduction of captive-bred Louisiana pinesnakes took place in 2010 with 11 individuals.
From Hatchlings to the Wild
Pinesnakes hatch between July and September, and captive-bred individuals are released the following April-May, when they are about eight months old. Studies on the snakes have shown that at this age, captive-bred pinesnakes have higher survival rates.
Biologists continue monitoring the snakes after release. Using drift fence arrays with cameras, box traps, and/or passive integrated transponder (PIT) readers, they track the population and assess the program’s success. Each released snake has a PIT tag, similar to the microchips used by some pet owners for their dogs and cats. This technology allows biologists to identify individuals when they conduct surveys.
When biologists capture a snake at the reintroduction site without a PIT tag, they know it was born in the wild. These wild-born individuals are the ultimate sign of success: they prove that released snakes are surviving, maturing, and reproducing on their own.
Another sign of success is the sheer number of snakes being released each year and how that number continues to grow. Since the captive breeding began, over 600 pinesnakes have been released. In 2025 alone, 120 snakes were released � a true testament to the success this partnership is fostering.
Looking To the Future
With the program’s success, the LPSC is now planning for the next phase. Traditionally, all snakes have been released at one location within the forest. This year, they expanded their efforts by identifying a second release site within Kisatchie National Forest. Expanding to other areas will enable additional populations to establish themselves thereby increasing the long-term survival of the species.
As the population grows and the opportunity to release snakes at other locations expands, the LPSC hopes to extend its partnership to private landowners. With habitat fragmentation being one of the primary threats to this snake, partnering with private landowners would allow for large, connected areas for the pinesnake to disperse and interact with other individuals of its kind.
Recovering a species to the point where it no longer needs federal protection is a collaborative effort. From managing the habitat and breeding snakes to releasing them and monitoring their progress, every step involves collaboration.
Thanks to the continued collaboration and commitment of the Louisiana Pinesnake Stakeholders Consortium, this species is steadily progressing toward removal from the federal Threatened and Endangered Species List.
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