Table 1 Total number (Positives) and percentage (%) of samples in which we detected Lampropeltis californiae eDNA, and total number of samples analyzed (N). Samples include swab samples collected from artificial cover objects (ACOs) from January 30th to June 8th 2023 (ACOs 1; first sampling period) and June 8th to June 30th 2023 (ACOs 2; second sampling period) (see main text for further details), soil samples collected directly underneath ACOs (Soil ACOs) and at random locations within sampling sites (Soil random), and swab samples from the sole of team members’ boots (Boots). We also show the number of positive detections per type of ACO (ST = corrugated steel plate, BS = bitumen sheet, RU = rubber sheet, CBS = corrugated bitumen sheet and PL = plywood board) and sampling sites (1–3). For the purpose of total ACO counts, we included June 8th once (this day was shared between the two sampling periods).

From: Validation of eDNA methods for managing the terrestrial invasive snake Lampropeltis californiae on the Canary Islands