Coves residents get up-close-and-personal with local reptiles and amphibians
Last week, Friends of the Coves Subwatershed gathered at the Landon Branch of the public library for an informative presentation on Ontario reptiles by presenters from Sciensational Sssnakes. Attendees got a chance to learn about reptile biology, behaviour and conservation as well as to "meet" reptile (snake and turtle) and amphibian (toad, frog and salamander) species native to Ontario.
It was a great opportunity for everyone to gain a greater understanding of this elusive and often misunderstood group of animals that are far too often persecuted out of ignorance. Fears of reptiles are often built on misconceptions and inaccurate information. If the only snakes one is familiar with are those portrayed as villains in movies, how will they develop an appropriate impression of them? The answer to that is education. The presentation highlighted the fact that no reptiles found in London should be feared or considered dangerous. Many snakes mimic the behaviour of more dangerous snakes in order to ward of threats. For example, the Hognose Snake will rear up and puff out it's neck when threatened and is therefore often falsely referred to as a Puff Adder, a type of snake not found in Ontario. Several snakes are also known to shake their tales like a rattlesnake.
Meet the American Toad, though not commonly encountered, great choruses of them can be heard singing at night throughout late spring and early summer in the Coves.
Of especial interest to Coves residents was the chance to see a live Snapping Turtle, a Coves species that has been listed as at risk by provincial legislation. Snapping Turtles are omnivorous scavengers, a role that is vital for keeping ponds like the Coves clean. Many Coves residents find females visiting their yards during the summer in search of a nesting spot. These nests should be welcomed and protected from being dug up by dogs, a common threat to nests in the Coves. Nests must never be covered in efforts to protect them because interuption of air and temperature circulation can kill the developing turtles. Snapping Turtles cannot retreat fully into their shells and therefore they may snap in defense when encountering a threat when they are at their most vulnerable out of the water. They should be watched from a distance and only approached if they are in danger (ie. on or approaching a road). The best method to move a Snapping Turtle away from danger is to wave a stick in front of them which they will bit onto and then can be dragged to safety with.
Meet the Snapping Turtle, though they rarely emerge from the water, quiet visitors to the Coves may catch a glimpse of them basking on a log on a sunny summer day.
A few tips on providing habitat for wild reptiles and amphibians:
Pile several rocks in a sunny spot far from the road to create a safe basking site.
Plant shade-tolerant, native groundcovers under trees and native wildflowers and grasses in gardens.
Don't clean up leaves under trees, shrubs or in the garden. Especially resist the urge to "clean up" the ground in natural areas adjacent to your property.
Leave stumps and rotting logs for breeding and refuge sites.
Build a small pond for frogs and toads to live and breed in. Don’t add chlorine or fish – neither is good for amphibians.
With most reptile and amphibian species in decline in Ontario, it is important for everyone to be educated on how we can all play a part in their conservation. For more information on reptile and amphibian conservation check out these sites...
The Canada Forest Service's Amphibians and Reptiles of Ontario study and resources
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Species at Risk site
The Long Point Causeway Improvement Project - a local project working to protect native species from becoming roadkill
A Snapping Turtle (right) and a Painted Turtle (left) basking on a log in the East Pond of the Coves.