Comment from Towers Saint Amand, TerryAnn

Re: Proposed Threatened Species Status for the Southern Hognose Snake I support the proposal to list the southern hognose snake as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act and urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide strong protections that address both current and future threats to the species and its habitat. The southern hognose snake is an example of a species whose decline reflects broader changes across entire ecosystems. The longleaf pine forests, sandhills, and associated habitats upon which this species depends have been dramatically reduced, fragmented, and altered over time. Habitat loss remains one of the most significant drivers of biodiversity decline, and species that rely on specialized habitats are often among the most vulnerable. I support a precautionary approach when evaluating species facing multiple, interacting threats. Habitat fragmentation, road mortality, development, incompatible land management practices, invasive species, climate change, and altered fire regimes do not operate independently. Their combined effects can be far greater than any single threat considered in isolation. Waiting until population declines become severe or irreversible risks losing opportunities for effective conservation. The southern hognose snake also illustrates the challenge of conserving species that are naturally difficult to detect. Low detection rates should not be confused with population security. Species that spend much of their lives underground or hidden within vegetation can decline substantially before those declines become apparent through surveys and monitoring efforts. Uncertainty should therefore support caution rather than delay protective action. Maintaining and restoring habitat should remain a central conservation priority. Healthy longleaf pine ecosystems support a wide variety of plants and animals beyond the southern hognose snake. Protecting these landscapes provides benefits that extend throughout the ecosystem and helps preserve ecological resilience in the face of future environmental change. I encourage the Service to ensure that conservation measures consider landscape connectivity as well as habitat quantity. Small, isolated habitat patches may be insufficient to support long-term population viability if movement between populations becomes increasingly restricted. Conserving larger connected habitats can improve resilience, genetic diversity, and recovery potential. I also encourage continued monitoring, research, and public education efforts. Many snake species face persecution due to misunderstanding or fear despite posing little threat to people. Public awareness can help reduce unnecessary killing and improve support for conservation efforts. The Endangered Species Act has been most successful when it acts before species reach the brink of extinction. The purpose of the law is not simply to document decline but to prevent irreversible losses while recovery remains achievable. Listing the southern hognose snake as threatened is a reasonable, science-based step that recognizes the cumulative pressures facing the species and provides an opportunity to conserve both the snake and the ecosystems upon which it depends. Thank you for considering my comments. TerryAnn Towers Saint Amand