Written by Gina Pannunzio for The Egret – Volume 35 Issue 3

In late May, early June, folks from all around arrive at Beausoleil Island, which is part of the Georgian Bay Islands National Park to participate in the 2019 Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Survey Course. This course is hosted by a partnership of reptile and amphibian experts and organizations including Blazing Star Environmental, Natural Resource Solutions Inc., Ontario Nature and the Government of Ontario. The course covers reptile and amphibian identification, and provides detailed workshops that dive into the ecology and phenology of these animals that relates to their detectability during key survey times. Participants gain important understanding of reptile and amphibian habitat use during their life cycle stages and insight on how to conduct appropriate presence/absence surveys for these special species in Ontario.

Beausoleil Island is the location for the course because it straddles two unique natural regions and is protected as part of the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve. The south end of the island hosts deciduous forest while the northern part has rugged Canadian Shield landscape. The trees on site are part of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest Region and represent a transition zone between hardwood forests of the south and boreal forests in the north. Some of the dominant hardwood tree species on the island include Sugar Maple, Striped Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, American Beech and Red Maple. Evergreens include Eastern Hemlock, White Cedar and White Pine, which grow in stands often between the rock outcrops where the soil is too thin or acidic for hardwoods.

These ecosystem mixes provide habitat for a high diversity of plants and wildlife. In particular, this island and others within the Georgian Bay Islands National Park System, have more reptile and amphibian species than any other national park in Canada. The close proximity of all these habitats to each other has helped experts document 17 reptile and 12 amphibian species on the island, which represents over half of Ontario’s herptofauna. This diversity includes many species of conservation concern, and the island is able to support a high number, since it is almost completely unaffected by the threats reptiles and amphibians face in other places across Ontario. Some noteworthy species course participants are able to witness include Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, Massugsa, Northern Ribbonsnake, Northern Ring-necked Snake, Blanding’s Turtle, Eastern Musk Turtle, Map Turtle, Spotted Turtle, Gray Treefrog, Eastern Newt, Four-toed Salamander, Eastern Red-backed salamander, and of course more.

Of Ontario’s herptofauna, 17 of 27 reptiles and 6 of 26 amphibian species are listed as federally and provincially at risk. While Ontario as a province is very biodiverse, it seems more and more species are added to the list frequently. Amphibians and reptiles are an important part of healthy, functional ecosystems. They are often selected as indicator species that reveal whether things are going well or poorly, depending on their presence or absence. They are part of Ontario’s natural heritage and are a source of inspiration and exploration for those who are fascinated by their colours, patterns, life cycles, behaviour and more. They hold significance for many cultures including First Nations and are important sources of scientific and medical discovery around the world. It is very critical to pay attention to what is happening to reptiles and amphibians in Ontario, because they face so many challenges in maintaining healthy and sustainable populations across the province.

This course not only provides participants a unique experience to understand these creatures, how to survey for them, and report their sightings, it also puts them at an advanced position to be an additional protector and champion. With more people out there acting as eyes and ears for Ontario’s wildlife, there is a greater chance that they will speak up when policy and legislation comment periods open, advocate for habitat protection when threats locally are a potential reality, and be able to properly educate others about their importance with accurate information.

For those wishing to take a deep dive into Ontario’s slithery, scaly, spotted, lined, blotchy, moist, musky, woodland, wetland, noisy, swampy, shelly, spiky, cryptic, shy, cold blooded and interesting animals, consider taking this course in the future. Taking a trip to Beausoleil Island with other likeminded individuals, interacting with Ontario’s reptiles and amphibians, exploring the island, wading in meadow marshes and wetlands, falling asleep to choruses of Gray Tree Frogs, American Toads as well as American Bullfrogs, Northern Leopard and Green Frogs calling, climbing the Canadian Shield and testing survey skills is a great learning experience. Keep your eyes open as the course hosts start to advertise the opportunity at the beginning of the New Year through Ontario Nature, Blazing Star Environmental and the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas social media pages.

In the meantime, here’s a few ways you can learn more about Ontario’s herptofauna:

• Re-read Steve Marks’ article Reptiles and Amphibians need our help! In fact, all wildlife does! For The Egret Issue 25 – Number 1 in 2019. Link: https://www.essexcountynature.com/reptiles-and-amphibians-need-our-help-in-fact-all-wildlife-does/

• Learn about issues such as habitat fragmentation and road mortality affecting Windsor’s herptofauna in the Ojibway Prairie Complex by reading this blog article by the Ojibway Prairie Massasauga team:  https://wildlifepreservation.ca/blog/deadly-roads-of-the-ojibway-prairie-complex/

• Want facts? Read the published article in The Canadian Field-Naturalist: Choquette, J.D., & Valiantt, L. (2016).  Road Mortality of Reptiles and Other Wildlife at the Ojibway Prairie Complex and Greater Park Ecosystem in Southern Ontario. The Canadian Field Naturalist, 130(1), 64-75. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v130i1.1804

• Consider attending Dave Kraus’ early spring herp walk in 2020 and keep an eye out in The Egret for other educational opportunities hosted by various organizations in our area.

• Report your sightings to the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas (ORAA). Download the app on your smartphone and read more here: https://ontarionature.org/programs/citizen-science/reptile-amphibian-atlas/

• Help reduce road mortality by driving with caution and watch for wildlife-crossing along roadways. If you live in Windsor or LaSalle, drive slow down Malden or Matchette, or avoid them all together by using the Herb-Gray Parkway or Ojibway Parkway instead.  

• Learn more about legal protection for Ontario’s herptofauna here: https://ontarionature.org/legal-protection-ontarios-reptiles-amphibians/

• Learn about Ontario’s herptofauna and check out an interactive range map for all species through Ontario Nature
  • Species information: https://ontarionature.org/programs/citizen-science/reptile-amphibian-atlas/species/
  • Range map: https://ontarionature.org/oraa/maps/

• Recognize World Turtle Day, hosted on May 23 internationally