| Conservation |
There is something like 5% of the original natural habitat left in Essex County, within this 5% most of our
native herpetofauna precariously exist. These animals need our help so that they can continue to
fascinate our kids, continue to fill the vital roles they play in their ecosystem, continue to benefit us through
pest control and environmental indicators and so that out natural heritage can be as complete and diverse
as it should be. There are several ways that each and every one of us can contribute to ensure the
continued existence of our herps.
Tolerance
If you simply do not like the idea of having these animals around you (usually this pertains to
snakes)understand that they are most likely just passing through and will likely not be seen again if left
alone. Persecution by humans has a devastating effect on our snakes and it is based solely on fear and
ignorance. In this day and age we should all be a little more compassionate to our wild neighbours, after
all they were here long before we were.
Create Habitat
The creation of habitat can really benefit amphibians and reptiles. Planting native species and creating
natural areas on your property will undoubtedly attract amphibians and reptiles to you. Natural areas
should include uncut grass, natural cover such as logs and rocks and a water source nearby if possible. If
left undisturbed these areas will become healthier and will be used by more species.
Contact Authorities
There are a few organizations you can contact should you have any questions or concerns. The staff at
Ojibway Nature Centre have been studying various herps and recording sightings for years and are always
interested in hearing about unusual or rare sightings as well as answering questions and providing info to
the public. Of special interest to the Ojibway staff are Eastern Fox Snake and Eastern Massasauga
sightings.
The Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary Atlas (OHS) is another organisation that collects sightings and
records of species. The purpose of the OHS is to collect as much data as possible so that the distribution
of all of Ontario's amphibians and reptiles can be accurately logged.
You can also email myself (Russ Jones) personally and I'll assist you in any way that I can.
native herpetofauna precariously exist. These animals need our help so that they can continue to
fascinate our kids, continue to fill the vital roles they play in their ecosystem, continue to benefit us through
pest control and environmental indicators and so that out natural heritage can be as complete and diverse
as it should be. There are several ways that each and every one of us can contribute to ensure the
continued existence of our herps.
Tolerance
If you simply do not like the idea of having these animals around you (usually this pertains to
snakes)understand that they are most likely just passing through and will likely not be seen again if left
alone. Persecution by humans has a devastating effect on our snakes and it is based solely on fear and
ignorance. In this day and age we should all be a little more compassionate to our wild neighbours, after
all they were here long before we were.
Create Habitat
The creation of habitat can really benefit amphibians and reptiles. Planting native species and creating
natural areas on your property will undoubtedly attract amphibians and reptiles to you. Natural areas
should include uncut grass, natural cover such as logs and rocks and a water source nearby if possible. If
left undisturbed these areas will become healthier and will be used by more species.
Contact Authorities
There are a few organizations you can contact should you have any questions or concerns. The staff at
Ojibway Nature Centre have been studying various herps and recording sightings for years and are always
interested in hearing about unusual or rare sightings as well as answering questions and providing info to
the public. Of special interest to the Ojibway staff are Eastern Fox Snake and Eastern Massasauga
sightings.
The Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary Atlas (OHS) is another organisation that collects sightings and
records of species. The purpose of the OHS is to collect as much data as possible so that the distribution
of all of Ontario's amphibians and reptiles can be accurately logged.
You can also email myself (Russ Jones) personally and I'll assist you in any way that I can.
| Here is a photo of my son Hayden holding his very first snake, a gorgeous Eastern Fox Snake (Elaphe gloydi). Educating the youth is key to ensuring the long term survival of our native herps. If we continue to treat our wildlife the way we have treated it the past we will surely lose many species. Photo By: Tom Preney |
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