San Francisco Garter Snake

Artists' Book
5.5" x 11"
Edition of 12, 2007
Woodcuts printed on white Magnani Pescia Satinado paper
Cover paper: Saint Armand embossed turtle red
Hand-sewn with red linen thread

The San Francisco Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) is endemic to California, and historically was found throughout the San Francisco Peninsula. Today, the wild population is limited to a few locations in San Mateo County and near the SF Airport. It is threatened by loss of habitat from agricultural, commercial, and urban development, as well as illegal collecting for the pet trade and the decline of their main food source, the California red-legged frog. The snake was listed as a federal endangered species in 1967.