I just got back a few days from Charleston Lake Provincial Park where the black rat snake is there most famous resident. They have one they even show. According to the guides they are virtually harmless. One was following kids in the water at the beach. Basically came over, checked them out and was on his way. The kids followed etc., but there was no problem. Apperently the black rat snakes have a rattle as a defence mechanism to mimic the Massassuaga, but are a non venomous constrictor. There was one under the pop machine and all the kids would be checking it out everytime we went by. Didn't seem too dangerous to me and it was a good size. Actually my daughter said it was "cute". Mind you I wouldn't want to be squirrel in this guys tree. Anyway here's an article from Ontario Parks. Harmless - but becoming homeless
Canada's largest snake lives only in two distinct regions of Ontario - the Carolinian Forest region, running across the north shore of Lake Erie in southwestern Ontario, and the Frontenac Axis region in southeastern Ontario. The black rat snakes in these areas are at the periphery of the species' range, with those in the Frontenac Axis being at the very northern edge.
From their range in the eastern United States, they moved northward with the retreating glaciers. This means that for about 7,000 years they have made these areas of Ontario their home.
Historical records indicate that prior to European settlement, black rat snakes lived throughout much of the Carolinian forest region. Over the past 200 years, the Carolinian forest cover has been reduced to patches, most of which measure less than three hectares. The black rat snake population in this area has been fragmented along with the forest. These snakes now live as a handful of small, isolated groups.
The Frontenac Axis snakes are confined to an area of approximately 5,000 square kilometres. This area includes a small bit of New York State, into which the axis extends. The next nearest group of snakes is 120 kilometres to the south, near Syracuse, New York.
Black rat snake populations in Ontario are isolated from each other and from other populations in the United States. Since they have no way of intermingling with the black rat snakes farther south, they are particularly vulnerable to the pressures of continued loss and alteration of habitat.
Habitat loss and fragmentation have reduced their geographic distribution in Ontario by an estimated 75 percent. Most of the reduction has occurred in the Carolinian region, but there is also evidence of significant range contraction in the Frontenac Axis region.
The increase in the number of roads through black rat snake habitat, and the ever-increasing traffic, spell bad news for black rat snakes. They don't reach sexual maturity until they are 9 or 10 years old. If individuals are to contribute to their population, they not only have to avoid natural predators for a decade, but must also avoid becoming roadkill and being killed or collected by humans.
In 1998, the black rat snake was designated a "threatened" species in Canada. This designation
means they are likely to become endangered in this country if the factors affecting their vulnerability are not reversed. If their 7,000-year legacy in Canada is to continue, we must dig down to the very old - and twisted - roots of the human/snake relationship.
Let's not let them silently slip away
The situation facing Ontario black rat snakes is strikingly similar to that facing wildlife worldwide. More and more species are being confined to fragmented remnants of their former range; habitat alteration is the leading problem facing all vertebrate groups.
About one in four vertebrate species is limited to small and localized populations, is declining steeply in numbers, or is threatened with extinction. Most biologists believe that we are presently in the middle of one of the great mass extinctions of geologic history. But whereas all of the others were caused by natural phenomena, this one is unique in being brought about by one species: homo sapiens. The dubious distinction is ours.
We still have time to avert the collapse of our living world. The only way to prevent the big picture of mass extinction is to treat each little picture - like black rat snakes in Canada - as vitally important.
Live and let slither
Sharing habitat with black rat snakes
Some of us are permanent residents in black rat snake habitat; some of us are seasonal; and some of us may just pass through. Here is a list of things we can do to actively share habitat with black rat snakes.
Consider supporting or volunteering for black rat snake projects at provincial or national parks, such as the "Adopt a Snake" programs run by the Friends of Murphys Point and Friends of Charleston Lake Provincial Parks.
Reduce driving speed and increase observational skills during spring and fall when black rat snakes are most likely to be basking on roads. At other times of the year, black rat snakes may be crossing the road just to get to the other side. Be mindful!
Leave dead or hollow trees on property for basking, shedding and egg-laying sites. They are also beneficial to other wildlife.
Leave downed trees and woody debris with rotten cavities because of their importance as egg-laying sites.
Start a compost pile for a potential egg-laying site. Don't turn it in July and August, or eggs may be crushed.
Leave known hibernacula and the surrounding area undisturbed.
Create small brush piles on property. These can serve as places where snakes can escape predators and find prey.
Perhaps most importantly, let the snakes be!
Recovery Initiatives
In 1999, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) assembled the Black Rat Snake Recovery Team. It consists of a dedicated group of experts from MNR, Ontario Parks, Parks Canada, and
Environment Canada - as well as academic researchers from the United States and Canada, and non-government representatives.
Their overall goal is to ensure that black rat snakes remain a healthy component of Canadian biodiversity. To this end, they have developed a recovery strategy and are implementing an action plan. They have set separate medium-term goals for the two population regions. For the Frontenac Axis, the aim is to retain current distribution and connectivity among populations, with no decrease in numbers. For the Carolinian region, they aim to achieve self-sustaining populations, with no further decrease in numbers. They also aim to restore connectivity, or gene flow, among the currently isolated populations.
The recovery team will attempt to coordinate with existing landscape conservation initiatives such as the Algonquin to Adirondacks (A2A) project and Carolinian Canada's "Big Picture Project."
Excerpted from the booklet, The Black Rat Snake, Live & Let Slither, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2001.
Project supervisor: Chris Burns, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Written by Leslie Work
Project co-ordination and graphic design: Gareth Lind, Lind Design
Illustrations by Nick Craine
Scientific editors: Gabriel Blouin-Demers and Shaun Thompson
Photographs by Gabriel Blouin-Demers and courtesy of Charleston Lake
Provincial Park and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Thanks to Rob McAleer, Lithosphere Press
Thanks to the Friends of Charleston Lake Provincial Park and the Lanark
County Stewardship Council for their assistance in funding this project.
