One week after returning from Northern Ontario, the RAR crew is off again to travel through the southern half of the province. As we have gone as far north as Moose Factory and will be going as far south as Point Pelee during this trip, the distance between our two farthest programs this year is a staggering 1078 kilometres. We have some well traveled reptiles, who have now been in vans, trains, and yes... even airplanes in previous summers (the jokes about snakes on a plane are almost old, but we will likely continue to use them past their expiration date regardless).
One reptile that is deserving of attention here is southern Ontario is the Northern Water Snake. Although this species can be found as far north as Sudbury, their tendency to be found near rivers and streams makes this area a great place to easily see these creatures. Northern Water snakes can be identified by their triangular-shaped head, and come in a range of colours. Some are brown, others are gray, and some appear to be completely black. Closer inspection will also reveal that this snake has bands along the length of its body. This differentiates Northern Water Snakes from the Lake Erie Water Snake, which are a generally pale and often less banded subspecies that occurs on Pelee Island and sometimes along the shores of Lake Erie. Both the Northern and Lake Erie Water Snake are perfectly harmless; however, they are often confused with the venomous Water Moccasin. Although these snakes are all very similar in appearance, Water Moccasins do not live in Ontario! Their range is limited to the southern United States, as the winters here in Canada are too cold for them to survive.
- Brittany