Rare species of endangered snake discovered on B.C’s Lasqueti Island
Published 2:40 pm Tuesday, May 19, 2026
The unique and rare sharp-tailed snake has been confirmed on Lasqueti Island.
The endangered and secretive species spends most of its life underground burrowed into rotting logs or tree stumps, according to a post by Laura Matthias, ecological consultant, on the BC Parks Blog.
A May 2023 observation on INaturalist has since been confirmed and extends the species’ known range by more than 60 kilometres. Previously the snake was known to live on the southern Gulf Islands and on southern Vancouver Island, but no further north than Ladysmith.
In collaboration with BC Parks, Lasqueti Island Nature Conservancy and staff with the provincial government, Matthias, a member of the Sharp-tailed Snake Recovery Team, visited Lasqueti Island in 2024 and 2025 to set up artificial cover objects (ACOs) to try to find additional sharp-tailed snakes on the island.
Snakes will naturally warm up on these small asphalt shingles, just as they would under rocks or rotting logs. Researchers check under the ACOs on warm sunny days, which allows them to find the creatures without disturbing their natural habitat.
The ACOs are monitored in the spring and fall when snakes are most active.
The first check of the ACOs in Lasqueti Island Ecological Reserve was done in September 2025. Although no sharp-tailed snakes were observed, there were several northern alligator lizards which confirmed the covers do attract reptiles.
A LINC stewardship technician continued to monitor the site through the fall. It can take years of monitoring before a snake is found.
Sharp-tailed snakes are considered endangered or threatened (red-listed) in B.C. They face challenges to their survival such as development, invasive species, predation, lack of prey and habitat loss.
On Lasqueti Island, feral sheep have grazed most of the ground vegetation across the island, leaving little habitat for wildlife.
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