California names giant garter snake as official state snake

Governor Newsom has declared the giant garter snake and bigberry manzanita as official state symbols, highlighting California’s unique biodiversity.

SAN DIEGO — California has two new state symbols. Governor Newsom just signed bills that establish an official state snake and state shrub.

CBS 8 spoke with experts about the two species – the Bigberry Manzanita and Giant Garter Snake.

Wildlife Ecologist EriC Hansen said, “I think it’s fantastic, because it draws attention.”

Jeff Boyett, the manager at Armstrong Garden Centers says, “the manzanita is a local and statewide native plant, so I think it’s a good choice.”

The bigberry manzanita and giant garter snake are officially the California state shrub and state snake.

The Governor’s office says the new state symbols celebrate our uniqueness and distinctive ecosystems.

“If we were picking a state snake, this is one that occurs only in California, so this is a purely California snake – I’ve heard it’s chill and laid back like California,” Hansen added. He says they’re native to Central California.

“They were a valley floor wetland species and we’re the only ones who have them and they’re our most aquatic snake, so they’re unique,” he said.

They’re strong swimmers who prey on fish and frogs. There are between 18 and 37 garter snake species. The females can get up to five feet long. They have a mild venom, that isn’t dangerous to humans.

“They don’t hibernate, they do what reptiles do. They bromate, which is slow down and stop eating in winter time,” he said.

Over the last century, their population has declined, making it a federal endangered species since 1991.

“Awareness is the first step toward conserving imperil resources, so it’s big deal for that reason,” Hansen said.

The bigberry manzanita is also unique. The staff at Armstrong Garden Centers tells me it’s almost exclusively native to California and was once a food source for Native Americans.

“It will produce a pinkish, white flower and on ages over 20, it will start making a round edible fruit, often it was used to make a cider and it will live approximately 100 years,” Boyett said.

It’s drought tolerant, requiring little to no water and can rapidly regenerate if exposed to wildfire. Our official shrub has an extensive root system, also helping with soil erosion. It’s one variety among dozens of manzanitas in the state.

“It gets about 15-20 feet tall in coastal ranges, to the north,” Boyett added.

Governor Newsom says our state is a global biodiversity hotspot, saying we have the highest number of species in the country.