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Memphis 'snake factory' transplants slither into their new home in Louisiana

Stephen Smith And Kevin Mcgill

Associated Press

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A Louisiana pine snake bluffs in a posture to defend itself against predators, during the release of several of about 100 Louisiana pine snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A Louisiana pine snake is held by a biologist with pine trees seen in the background, during the release of several of about 100 of the snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A biologist releases a Louisiana pine snake into a Baird's pocket gopher hole, which is its natural habitat, as it is released along with several of about 100 Louisiana pine snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A Louisiana pine snake bluffs in a posture to defend itself against predators, during the release of several of about 100 Louisiana pine snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Pine trees are seen reflected in the eye of a Louisiana pine snake, during the release of several of about 100 Louisiana pine snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Cassie Collins, research husbandry technician for the Memphis Zoo, prepares to release a young Louisiana pine snake, which were bred at the zoo, during the release of several of about 100 Louisiana pine snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A Louisiana pine snake, which are a threatened species, slithers into a Baird's pocket gopher hole, which is their natural habitat, during a release of several of about 100 of the snakes, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A Louisiana pine snake is seen as it is released along with several of about 100 Louisiana pine snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Representative from the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife, the Memphis Zoo, The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Colorado State Center for Environment Management of Military Land, based at nearby Fort Polk, watch during the release of several of about 100 Louisiana pine snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Dennis Krusac, a biologist with the U.S.Forest Service, walks amongst Baird's pocket gopher holes as they prepare to release several of about 100 Louisiana pine snakes, bred by the Memphis Zoo, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Cassie Collins, research husbandry technician for the Memphis Zoo, takes a young Louisiana pine snake out of a pillowcase, which were bred at the zoo, during the release of several of about 100 Louisiana pine snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Cassie Collins, research husbandry technician for the Memphis Zoo, walks with a pillowcase holding a young Louisiana pine snake, during the release of several of about 100 of the snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Emlyn Smith, a biologist with the U.S.Forest Service, briefs the involved parties as they prepare to release several of about 100 Louisiana pine snakes, bred by the Memphis Zoo, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A Louisiana pine snake, which are a threatened species, slithers into a Baird's pocket gopher hole, which is their natural habitat, during a release of several of about 100 of the snakes, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A detail of the scales of a released Louisiana pine snake is seen, during the release of several of about 100 of the snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Jeff Zeringue, of the Louisiana Forestry Association, and Andrhea Massey, field biologist and database manager for Colorado State Center for Environment Management of Military Land, based at nearby Fort Polk, take photos during the release of about 100 Louisiana pine snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A Louisiana pine snake bluffs in a posture to defend itself against predators, during the release of several of about 100 Louisiana pine snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Biologists from the Memphis Zoo hold several Louisiana pine snakes to demonstrate their color variations, during the release of several of about 100 of the snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

A Louisiana pine snake bluffs in a posture to defend itself against predators, during the release of several of about 100 Louisiana pine snakes, which are a threatened species, in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Friday, May 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

BENTLEY, La. – They were born and raised in captivity, but as they slowly slithered away from their handlers and disappeared into gopher holes in the Kisatchie National Forest, the group of Louisiana pine snakes appeared to be right at home.

The five pine snakes bred at the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee were released into the Kisatchie in early May as part of an ongoing conservation effort involving zoos in Memphis, New Orleans and two Texas cities, Fort Worth and Lufkin. This year, more than 100 pine snakes — a species the federal government lists as threatened — will be released into the central Louisiana forest.

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“We provide the snakes in our snake factories, which are funded by the U.S. Forest Service, into habitat that the Fish and Wildlife Service and Forest Service have developed,” said Steve Reichling, the Memphis Zoo's Director of Conservation and Research. "It’s just a perfect marriage, really.”

Reichling said the characteristics of the area where the snakes were released — a high tree canopy dominated by longleaf pine, little mid-level vegetation, grassy ground and sandy soil — are all vital to the snakes' survival. The forest is also home to gophers that are both a food source for the snakes and the creators of the burrow system where the snakes live and hibernate.

“Unlike some of the other snakes that are here that can survive in different habitats, Louisiana pines, they cannot," Reichling said as the snakes were being released.

Although they bear a resemblance to rattlesnakes, pine snakes are non-venomous constrictors and aren't considered dangerous to humans.

“There is no other snake in the world like it,” Reichling said. “And to me, that’s the definition of precious, right?”

The release into the Kisatchie of juvenile pine snakes raised at the Memphis Zoo has become an annual event, one that Emlyn Smith, a biologist with the forest service, looks forward to.

“I love this,” she said. “This is why I haven’t retired yet, because I love this project and it’s just so exciting. Every time I come out here, there’s the potential to see a pine snake that we released and to see that it’s surviving and it’s thriving and it’s making babies and it’s getting bigger.”

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McGill reported from New Orleans.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.