Reptiles at Risk

Smooth (Green) Snakes in Sudbury!

Posted by Jeff Hathaway on September 26, 2009 at 8:20 PM

Well I'm on the road again- after a stint on the east coast (I got to see whales!) and some time spent getting the centre ready for opening as well as shows in the muskokas, we're on our first overnight trip of the fall. This time Megan and I are up in Sudbury! This is too far north to find most snakes in Ontario, but there are a few neat types of snakes found up here.
Out of these few, there is only one species that reaches much farther north in Ontario that lays eggs! This is the Smooth Green Snake. There is a reason most of the snakes up here are live bearers- this allows them to follow the sun around in order to keep their young developing quickly enough for the shorter and colder summer. With an egg-laying snake, this is compromised as the eggs will inevitably only be in the sun for a portion of the day. The Smooth Green Snake gets around this in an interesting way.
While other snakes in Ontario typically lay their eggs about 60 days before they hatch, Smooth Green Snakes keep their eggs inside much longer. This means that they can follow the sun around all summer, giving their young adequate growth time, and the young hatch 3-7 days after being laid.
As their name suggests, they are smooth and green; being insectivorous, are also quite slender. Many people are surprised that these snakes live here in Ontario, as it seems like they should be hard to miss with their bright green colour. This colour, however, actually serves a completely opposite purpose to this conception- it acts as an excellent camouflage for the snake in its grassy habitat. Green Snakes are almost impossible to separate from their habitat because of this colour and also their behaviour. They will actually move in a way similar to a blade of grass in the wind, shaking back and forth and appear to be a blade of grass. Ask me about it- I will do the Green Snake dance for you.
Smooth Green Snakes are some of my favourite snakes, and I hope you keep your eyes out for these magnificent beauties.
-Eric.