Mallorca invasive snake controls gain legal backing

Mallorca, Balearic Islands: traps and checks already target introduced snakes in protected areas, and a change published on Tuesday, 27 October, gives that work stronger legal backing. Spain’s official state gazette, the Boletín Oficial del Estado, now lists introduced snakes of the colubrid family as invasive across the Balearic Islands, with exceptions for native species. The Balearic government requested the change; until now, the listing applied to Ibiza and Formentera.

More checks on Mallorca

The Balearic Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment is preparing a campaign to step up controls on Mallorca and its offshore islets. Monitoring, trapping and other controls are already under way, particularly in protected natural areas and other sensitive sites.

The aim is to limit the snakes’ spread and protect native wildlife. Introduced snakes eat reptiles, birds and small mammals. On small islets, they can threaten animal populations found in only a limited area. Controls on Mallorca will pay particular attention to islets with Balearic lizards.

Different rules for different islands

Hooded snakes and viperine snakes remain off the invasive list on Mallorca and Menorca because they are native there. Ladder snakes are exempt on Menorca but classed as invasive on Mallorca. Horseshoe whip snakes, Montpellier snakes and western whip snakes have also been found on Mallorca.

Officials will continue tracking snake populations and acting where the snakes are found to limit their spread.

Topics: Nature & wildlife · Environment

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com