Betty Learmouth
Seventeen CSLT friends and members gathered at the Ojibway Nature Centre on June 17, 2006, for a walk on the prairie and supper following the walk. Our leader, Ojib- way staff member, Erin Casasola, suggested that we have a change of plans due to 34 degree Celsius temperature outside. At 4:00 p.m. we met in the Centre’s air conditioned activity room for an update on the newly introduced Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve’s Massasauga Rattlesnakes.
Erin was pleased for an opportunity to bring us up to date on Ojibway’s Massasauga rattlesnakes. On June 7, 2006, twenty-seven young rattlesnakes were released into the prairie, all with transmitters which will enable staff to check everyday on each individual snake.
These young snakes are offspring of adult snakes that were rescued from a housing development site. Massasauga rattlesnakes cannot be moved more that a kilometer from their territory and hibernacula. Although these young snakes have never hibernated, researchers are hopeful that they will locate and use appropriate hibernacula. Studies have identified hibernacula sites in this area to be the holes of crayfish, which are deep, providing safe refuge in winter.
Ojibway staff maintains a record of all snakes encountered. A binder of eastern foxsnake and massasauga photographs was passed around. All foxsnakes are also give a specific number and massasauga rattlesnakes are assigned a letter.
Ojibway staff have placed Massasuaga rattlesnake posters in various locations about the Ojibway Prairie to alert visitors of its new residents. Erin told us that Massasauga rattlesnakes are incredibly shy. Looking for Massasauga snakes can be a fruitless search. Ojibway staff estimate that one hundred hours is devoted to a search that will actually yield a rattlesnake sighting.
Ojibway staff have placed Massasuaga rattlesnake posters in various locations about the Ojibway Prairie to alert visitors of its new residents. Erin told us that Massasauga rattlesnakes are incredibly shy. Looking for Massasauga snakes can be a fruitless search. Ojibway staff estimate that one hundred hours is devoted to a search that will actually yield a rattlesnake sighting.
The Massasauga rattlesnake’s rattle is similar to links in a chain. When rattled, the sound resembles that of a insect call. As this species regularly sheds it skin, another ne link is added to the rattle.
Massasauga rattlesnakes give birth to live young in contrast to foxsnakes, which are egg layers. Foxsnake eggs are leathery and stick one to the other. Typically a foxsnake lays its eggs in such locations as compost piles.
Erin told us that the Massasauga rattlers are the only venomous snake species found in Ontario. This rattlesnake species is small and related to the pygmy rattlesnake. Popu- lations of Massasauga rattlesnakes are found in the Bruce Peninsula, Wainfleet Bog, eastern Georgian Bay and the Ojibway area. In some of these areas cottages built on Mas- sasauga rattlesnake habitat resulted in humans infringing on rattlesnakes.
When venom is excreted, the amount is tiny as Massasauga rattlesnakes feed on small mammals such as rodents. Venom begins the digestion process.
Signage is to be placed around the Ojib- way Provincial Prairie Reserve to notify the public as to the reintroduction of the Massasauga rattlesnakes. Erin brought a northern brown snake and an eastern foxsnake to our talk. The northern brown snake is a delicate snake that con- sumes worms. Its back has flecks of Ohio Spiderwort black and its belly is pink. This small snake is found through- out Essex County.
The eastern foxsnake is a large handsome snake with a slender head and slim tail. It is named after its ability to produce a musky smell. Sometimes it can be confused with the Massasauga rattlesnake when it shakes it tail rapidly, pro- ducing a buzzing sound. This snake species is found through- out Essex County but is listed as a threatened species.
Eastern foxsnakes prey on creatures such as rodents, nestling birds and eggs. The eastern foxsnake which is a constrictor, is fed every two weeks.
Following Erin’s presentation, the group investigat- ed the native plant garden and the nearby open natural area. Erin identified a number of prairie plant species including Butterfly Milkweed, Ohio Spiderwort, Prairie Dock, Slender Bush Clover (a rare species only found in Ontario at this location), Tall Coreopsis, Tall Sunflower, and Showy Tick Trefoil.
A salad supper was enjoyed by all which included Chinese salad, twenty-four hour salad, oriental chicken salad, Arctic salad slices, Bermuda bean salad, Greek salad, macaroni salad, chilled Moors and Christians salad, curried chicken salad with fruit, and red potato salad with sour cream dressing. Breads included nutty seed bread and cranberry banana bread. Dessert selection included Grandma’s cinna- mon apple cake, chocolate flecked angel food cake and Rosie Schwartz’s low fat chocolate marble cake.
Certificates of appreciation were presented to Erin Casasola for her informative presentations and to volunteer Nancy Murray who has assisted the Land Trust with a num- ber of computer related projects including the preparation of the Land Trust’s newsletters.