Inventory of Reptiles in Capitol Reef National Park

Hanifin, Charles; Pedersen, Kristopher

doi:10.36967/2317020

Reptile fauna of Eastern Utah are historically understudied and yet represent important components of desert ecosystems. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN) parks developed an inventory needs list in 2007 identifying amphibians and reptiles as high priority; this need was reaffirmed as a high priority in 2017 as a component of Inventories 2.0 scoping. Because these parks are managed for multiple uses (e.g., grazing as well as human visitation and recreation), lack of good data associated with herpetofauna could place local populations at risk. Key pieces of information such as species presence and distribution data are required for risk management decisions and to enhance management of these taxa. Grazing pre- National Environmental Policy Act analysis and lack of data have been identified as key needs at multiple NCPN localities. Capitol Reef National Park (CARE) was included in earlier herpetofauna inventory efforts by the NCPN (Platenberg and Graham 2003). However, CARE has identified the absence of good herpetofauna species presence and distribution data in riparian and water features as potential data gaps that might hinder management associated with visitation, restoration, and climate change. Work reported here was supported by the Inventory and Monitoring program and provides these critical data for CARE. We used a combination of standardized herpetological inventory tools as well as transect-based sampling to assess reptile presence at six locations identified by park personnel. These included areas around Ackland Springs, Spring Canyon, Pleasant Creek, Oak Creek, Bitter Spring Creek, and the Fremont River. As per recommendations in previous herpetofauna inventories and park personnel requests we used the presence of water features, riparian zones and other unique habitat elements to maximize the effectiveness of surveys and meet CARE management needs. We identified the presence of nine reptile species in target sites during a single field season in 2024. We also documented a range extension of the Long-nosed Leopard lizard (Gambelia wislizenii) at the Ackland Spring site. Our results suggest that water features and riparian zones at CARE appear to be important habitat for reptiles at CARE.

Inventory of Reptiles in Capitol Reef National Park

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