Reptiles at risk in Muskoka

Lending a hand to reptiles

There’s a few things Muskokans, and particularly property owners, can do to make life a little easier for reptiles at risk.
Don’t take them home as pets. One of several problems with making a local reptile a pet is it removes the possibility for that animal to breed and thus help bring the species out of its at-risk status.
Develop the waterfront responsibly. Constructing a wall along a property’s lakefront makes the property unfriendly to turtles. Turtles need to lay their eggs slightly inland as laying them on a beach would lead to boat wakes washing them into the lake.
Don’t feed raccoons. As a very successful and clever predator of reptile eggs raccoons don’t need any help from people.
Advocate for good signage. Turtle crossing signs that let drivers know to be wary can help improve mortality rates for turtles on the move.
Help injured reptiles. Most veterinarians in the area will help out an injured reptile. Before reaching the vet, try and keep the animal calm and clean while handling them as little as possible.

MUSKOKA - Development in Muskoka has been great for cottagers but quite rough on our slithering, crawling, and be-shelled friends.
Eighteen of Ontario’s 25 reptile species are listed as species of concern and things appear to be getting worse. According to several local environmental experts at the recent Muskoka Stewardship Conference, increased development, particularly road construction, has proven lethal for Ontario populations of snakes, turtles and the provinces lone lizard species.
At the conference several speakers aimed to inform attendees about these misunderstood creatures, as well as provide tips for how locals can make Muskoka more reptile-friendly.
Rob Willson, a species at risk specialist at Riverstone Environmental Solutions, said he wants people to understand that these species are at risk and that they need our help.
“Once you know a bit of information about them and get a little more intimate with these animals, you’re a lot more likely to protect them,” Willson said.
One group of reptiles people have always had difficulty getting cozy with is the snake. Ontario has 16 species of snake and many of them can be found right here in Muskoka.
While Ontario’s snakes are mostly harmless, the massasauga rattlesnake stands out as the province’s only venomous snake. Despite this, or maybe partly because of it, the massasauga is listed as threatened under the Ontario Endangered Species Act.
The fear of rattlesnakes frequently leads to the killing of the creatures on sight; however, only two people have ever died in the province from a massasauga bite and both of those deaths occurred more than 40 years ago.
“They have a very efficient venom injection system but really the danger to the public is minimal,” said Willson. “I don’t have a problem saying that because it’s been so long since someone was in serious medical condition from a massasauga, and if you’re bitten, just go to the hospital.”
According to Willson, many of the province’s snakes are able to coexist with people just fine. For example, the eastern fox snake has been known to very effectively control the mice population on a property.
One clear area of concern for the local reptiles is the ongoing construction of roads. Here in Muskoka, a flattened snake or crushed turtle is a common sight along the highway.
Willson said reptiles are vulnerable to cars because reptiles are often slow moving and tend to freeze up when they see a vehicle coming towards them.
“Once turtles reach 60 years old, they’re not supposed to be killed by anything. They don’t have any predators left. They have made it through the really difficult stages of their lives when they’re small. Cars have changed all that because cars kill anything. So in their evolutionary history they have never experienced anything like that,” said Willson.
Another Ontario reptile with a bad reputation is the snapping turtle. Living close to 100 years but taking 15 to 20 years to reach maturity, the snapping turtle is listed as a special concern species under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act.
The considerable amount of time it takes for a snapping turtle to reach maturity means that any killing of an adult is a significant blow to the species. Despite this, the turtle is often targeted by drivers and property owners who see them as a dangerous nuisance.
Glenda Clayton, with the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, said that if you leave a snapping turtle alone, they are not a threat.
“We had a beautiful snapping turtle that used to come up to the dock all the time and eat little minnows that were hanging around,” said Clayton of Arrowhead Provincial Park. “Three or four hundred people were swimming within a stone’s throw of that spot and nobody lost a toe, nobody was harassed by that snapping turtle. They just don’t attack people. They are very passive in the water.”
During the summer, snapping turtles often end up getting hit by cars as they crawl long distances looking for a mate. Motorists should be careful to avoid the slow-moving turtle or if they’re feeling particularly helpful they can use a shovel or paddle to help it get across the street.
“You can also put your hands right above where the back legs come out and lift up, he cannot get you. Ideally do it with a pair of gloves on,” said Clayton. “Even if you have to wheelbarrow truck him across the road get him across that road because you may have just saved an 80-year-old grandmother.”
Reporting endangered species helps the agency track the prevalence of local species. If you have information about a species at risk, report it to the Ministry of Natural Resources by visiting nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/ and filling out the form.

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