Reptilian-Style Winter

Massasauga Rattlesnakes are the only poisonous snakes in Ontario, and it just so happens that some of them are residents at Beacon. Beacon has to carefully manage the population that lives at camp, because these rattlesnakes have a Threatened status in our area. According to Ontario.ca, having a Threatened status “means the species lives in the wild in Ontario, is not endangered, but is likely to become endangered if steps are not taken to address factors threatening it.”

Because of this status, we are not supposed to move the snake too far from the location where it was found. Interestingly, this is for hibernation reasons. Rattlesnakes generally return to the same hibernating spot year after year, and if they are moved too far, they might not find the right kind of location and would die over the winter.

What is the right kind of location, you might ask? The ground has layers, and the two layers that matter for the snakes are the frost line (how far down the ground freezes) and the water table (how far up the water level stays and/or flows through the soil). Rattlesnakes look a safe crevice, animal burrow or tree root cavity that allows them to hibernate BELOW the frost line but ABOVE the water table.

Another interesting fact about Massasauga rattlesnakes is that they are lonely sleepers - unlike other rattlesnake species who hibernate in groups, Massasaugas hibernate alone. Maybe they don’t like having to share their bed!

Beacon is glad to partner with Scales Nature Park to track and monitor our Massasauga rattlesnake population so that more can be known about these stellar reptiles. No one has ever been bitten by a rattlesnake at camp, and through good partnerships, education and care, we know we can keep it this way!

Sweet dreams, guys!