Dangerous Californian Kingsnake found in Tenerife
A Californian Kingsnake, which is an invasive species known to threaten native wildlife, has been found in Tenerife between the municipalities of Santa Cruz and La Laguna.
The discovery has raised some concern, especially given the damage this species has already caused in Gran Canaria, where it has become a serious ecological problem.
The snake was found by a local resident under some rubbish bins near the Nuestra Señora del Rosario school. After alerting emergency services, it was quickly captured by a team from the Canary Islands Government’s Early Detection Network for Exotic Species (REDEXOS).
The snake has since been taken to the Exotic Fauna Centre in Barranco Grande, Santa Cruz. Staff there confirmed that only one snake was found and there were no signs of eggs or baby snakes nearby. They reassured the public that this was an isolated case, not part of a wider infestation.
Experts believe the snake may have been kept as a pet and then abandoned. "It was found in an urban area, under rubbish bins, which suggests someone released it from their home," explained a spokesperson. They added that only ten kingsnakes have been found on Tenerife in the past 20 years, and most of those were discovered during police searches of private homes.
While the Californian Kingsnake isn’t venomous, it kills prey by constriction, and it is still dangerous to local wildlife. It eats a wide variety of animals and can quickly wipe out native species.
In Gran Canaria, where the species has become widespread, it has seriously affected populations of the giant lizard and the perenquén gecko, among others.
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