John, excellent comments - I agree with you. I do post and sometimes comment to generate thoughtful replies. My points are two:
1. I wish the author had either not used a specific snake species - or used a more factual representative of mouse eating snake species (I think Eastern Hognose really is a stretch for this example). And,
2. I actually hope this subspecies beach mouse (along with the others) can be saved from extinction. Just wish the mission would be to save it on the merits of a fine incredible creature that is part of the whole ecosystem and less that it is a food source for other critters.
I also did some research and found same as you. If you have time - read some of the lit describing reintroduction from lab raised beach mice. Limited gene pool yet they are reintroducing lab offspring.
Perhaps the most important issue is decline of beach mice is development and invasive animals such as cats and foxes. Once again cats are cited as the worst invasive. Development generates tourism and taxes and cats are off limits to control. In any event, always appreciate your comments along with those of other readers. Couple addes references here:
Cohabiting animals:
“A variety of animals live with beach mice in these dune habitats, including the six-lined racer, monarch butterflies, snowy plovers, and coachwhip snakes.”
Threats to beach mice:
“In addition, domestic cats can affect beach mice populations.”
“The domestic cat (Felis catus) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) hunt beach mice.”
“They lack appropriate predator recognition and avoidance mechanisms and are highly vulnerable to predation by foxes and cats. Many scientists and agencies have cited introduced cats and foxes as a major threat to beach mouse populations and a potential cause of their decline. Removal of these species from beach mouse habitat is now recommended as a conservation practice. Some effort has been made to eradicate cats from Anastasia Island and foxes from Santa Rosa Island. However, no broad campaign has been established to control or eliminate introduced predators from beach mouse habitat as a whole.”
Other than coachwhip, no mention of relationships with any snake species.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW173
“Other threats include increased predation from feral and free-ranging cats, foxes, raccoons, and coyotes.”
No mention of relationships with any snakes.
https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/p...w-beach-mouse/