http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/ Posts from the tour en-us Copyright 2009 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:03:31 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Winter obviously means colder weather. Air temperatures in Ontario often fluctuate between +10 Celsius and -40 Celsius (depending where you are). There are two problems with winter temperatures. The first is that fluctuation. It is very hard for animals to live when the temperature changes drastically. We survive this by insulating with warm winter clothes. Reptiles find suitable hibernacula (overwintering sites) that remain stable...usually underground. We will talk more about hibernacula next week. The second problem with our winters is how cold it actually gets! Remember that reptiles are the same temperature as what is around them (ectotherms). Winter temperatures mean that reptiles are cold! While some reptiles retreat further underground to places that don't freeze (look forward to the next segment on hibernacula), some stay where temperatures drop below freezing. The classic example of this is hatchling Painted Turtles. Mother Painted Turtles lay their eggs in June and July. The eggs incubate during the warm summer months, and the babies hatch usually in August and September. Some of these hatchlings dig their way out of the nest, and make the journey to a safe wetland that fall. Oddly though, some hatchlings stay in the nest over the entire winter and will dig their way out the next spring. Often, the temperatures in these shallow (~15cm) nests dips below zero. The hatchlings survive this cold temperatures by allowing parts of their body to naturally freeze. Painted Turtles are special in this category as the only reptiles to show this adaptation to cold weather. A great deal of research has been done on this amazing ability to freeze solid and thaw out naturally. It seems futuristic, but people always seem to be interested in cryobiology (freezing) and using it to live into the future! Dr. Costanzo at Miami University in Ohio has done a much of the work. For those interested in a more in depth look at the freeze tolerance in hatchling Painted Turtles, check out http://www.units.muohio.edu/cryolab/projects/hatchlingturtle.htm. There are also videos of Painted Turtle hatchlings thawing out! Painted Turtles are joined with four species of frogs that are able to survive cold temperatures. Most of these species need to be able to survive cold weather because they usually spend the winter in forests under the layer of leaves on the ground. One of these frogs is our own Wood Frog. Check out this link for more information about Wood Frog freezing, as well as videos showing an individual thawing after being completely frozen http://www.units.muohio.edu/cryolab/projects/woodfrogfreezing.htm So next week we will introduce you to underground hibernacula and how they influence the behaviours of reptiles in Ontario. M. http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/11/freezing_solidtaking_winter_to.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/11/freezing_solidtaking_winter_to.php Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:03:31 -0500 Our touring of schools is slowing down as we reach our targets set in the funding proposals (and those funds run low). This doesn't mean that we are slowing down our mission to educate everyone about the fantastic things our Ontario reptiles can do. As the weather gets colder and threatens to bring the snow, it is interesting to consider how our ectothermic reptiles and amphibians deal with this weather. Where do they overwinter? Do they stay cold, or find warm places? What is rectal breathing in turtles? Do some creatures actually freeze solid only to thaw out in the spring? For the month of November we shall investigate these adaptations to winter, focusing on species found in Ontario. I hope that these adapations will delight and enlighten you as you stay warm in your houses or get bundled up to enjoy the winter weather. M. http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/10/cold_weather_adaptations.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/10/cold_weather_adaptations.php Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:13:36 -0500 So the team is currently taking on Eastern Ontario, specifically north of Kingston. This is a great area of reptile diversity, sporting Black Rat Snakes, Map Turtles, Stinkpot Turtles, Blanding's Turtles, Milk Snakes...the list can probably go on. This is the last week that Eric and I will be doing programs together, as his contract is up after today. It was a good fall run, but I definitely hope to be doing some more work around Ontario. This was a great week to end on, as we were thouroughly impressed by the students and teachers at many of the schools. Their knowledge of reptiles at risk was fantastic to see. As was the development of species at risk booklets that centered on their own areas! This week also held some firsts, the best of which was spotting my first ever wild Black Rat Snake. It's pretty late in the season for snakes. Being ectotherms, they are often staying near their overwintering sites (hibernacula) at this point in case of a sudden chill. Our Black Rat was crossing the road near the cabin we've been put up in, as if it was a wonderful summer day. It definitely made my day wonderful though! -M. http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/10/eastern_ontario_outreach.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/10/eastern_ontario_outreach.php Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:31:09 -0500 Well I'm on the road again- after a stint on the east coast (I got to see whales!) and some time spent getting the centre ready for opening as well as shows in the muskokas, we're on our first overnight trip of the fall. This time Megan and I are up in Sudbury! This is too far north to find most snakes in Ontario, but there are a few neat types of snakes found up here. Out of these few, there is only one species that reaches much farther north in Ontario that lays eggs! This is the Smooth Green Snake. There is a reason most of the snakes up here are live bearers- this allows them to follow the sun around in order to keep their young developing quickly enough for the shorter and colder summer. With an egg-laying snake, this is compromised as the eggs will inevitably only be in the sun for a portion of the day. The Smooth Green Snake gets around this in an interesting way. While other snakes in Ontario typically lay their eggs about 60 days before they hatch, Smooth Green Snakes keep their eggs inside much longer. This means that they can follow the sun around all summer, giving their young adequate growth time, and the young hatch 3-7 days after being laid. As their name suggests, they are smooth and green; being insectivorous, are also quite slender. Many people are surprised that these snakes live here in Ontario, as it seems like they should be hard to miss with their bright green colour. This colour, however, actually serves a completely opposite purpose to this conception- it acts as an excellent camouflage for the snake in its grassy habitat. Green Snakes are almost impossible to separate from their habitat because of this colour and also their behaviour. They will actually move in a way similar to a blade of grass in the wind, shaking back and forth and appear to be a blade of grass. Ask me about it- I will do the Green Snake dance for you. Smooth Green Snakes are some of my favourite snakes, and I hope you keep your eyes out for these magnificent beauties. -Eric. http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/09/smooth_green_snakes_in_sudbury.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/09/smooth_green_snakes_in_sudbury.php Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:20:33 -0500 Hello everyone! I recently came across a blog posting by a fellow herpetologist down in the southeastern states. I thouroughly enjoy all of his postings, and while they focus on the reptiles and amphibians that live in those southern states, many of the themes are common to reptile and amphibian conservation continent wide. We spend a great deal of our time teaching children and families, with the hopes that one day they will teach their children. The posting [which can be accessed at http://davidasteen.blogspot.com/2009/09/big-snake-in-newark-delaware.html] covers the story of a large snake spotted in Newark, Delaware. This type of news really encourages us to keep up the work that we are doing. The children of today are being taught more each day about the wildlife that surrounds them. The hard part is being able to believe the knowledge that the children of today have stored in their brains. For those who are interested in other biology works that are written for the everyday person, check out the rest of David Steen's blog (http://davidasteen.blogspot.com/). For those with a bit more time on your hands, check out these books: Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinction by David Quammen Snakebit: Confessions of a Herpetologist by Leslie Anthony Flight of the Iguana: A Sidelong View of Science and Nature by David Quammen The Lizard King by Bryan Christy For the younger crowds, I myself find the "Uncover Books" extremely fascinating and filled with excellent factoids about the critters. I own the frog version, and have seen the cobra version as well (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncover-Cobra-Books/dp/1592233767). Happy reading! --M http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/09/trust_in_the_knowledge_of_your.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/09/trust_in_the_knowledge_of_your.php Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:16:21 -0500 The fall portion of our Reptiles At Risk on the Road program has officially begun! The past week has been spent visiting schools in the Orillia area, getting us back into the swing of things before heading out for weeks at a time to other destinations in Ontario. This means that we are driving...a lot. There are a couple things that we notice as we venture out to our programs. The first is that fall is just around the corner; leaves are starting to change colour, and the mornings are feeling brisk. The second are the road killed snakes and turtles. This is always a sad sight, and may be unavoidable in some circumstances. In fact, my first sighting of a wild Eastern Hognose Snake (arguably one of the most interesting snakes in Ontario) was of an adult female in a rather flat state. Luckily, these sightings do have a silver lining. Many species of snakes and turtles are cryptic, meaning they are very good at hiding themselves from the prying eyes of herpetologists. Reporting sightings of all species seen is a great idea, and road kills are important sightings! Joe Crowley, a fellow herpetologist and current employee of Ontario Nature, has spent the last year or so developing a new atlas to help keep track of Ontario's herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians). You can find more information at http://www.ontarionature.org/herpetofaunal_atlas.html. It's easy to report sightings online, and every single report helps us understand the distribution and how common our reptiles and amphibians actually are. This can help direct recovery efforts and habitat protection programs. If you aren't sure what you're seeing, take a photo! Just remember to respect wildlife and its habitat. Harrassing species that are protected could land you with some hefty fines. So in the last couple weeks of suitable "reptile weather" keep your eyes out for snakes and turtles, and send in your sighting reports to the Ontario Herpetofaunal Atlas! --M http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/09/how_roadkills_can_actually_hel.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/09/how_roadkills_can_actually_hel.php Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:47:51 -0500 The Reptiles at Risk on the Road project is a year-round effort. Even though the children may not be looking forward to returning to the books and homework associated with school, perhaps an entourage of Ontario snakes and turtles will cheer them up! As summer ends there are many changes happening. Robin (summer coordinator extraorinaire) has returned to school herself, leaving the program in the (hopefully) capable hands of myself. My name is Megan, and I'm a turtle researcher! Or at least I was. I just completed my masters degree at Laurentian University studying the endangered Spotted Turtle. I hope to continue the fabulous work that has already been accomplished by the Reptiles at Risk on the Road Project. My targets are schools! We want to provide our free outreach programs to any grade 6 through 8 classes that will have us. So check your newsletters, because we may be visiting your school this fall! Are you interested in having us come to your school?? Give us a call (705-327-2353) and hopefully we can work something out. --M. http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/09/back_to_school.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/09/back_to_school.php Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:12:15 -0500 The summer has passed so quickly! After our three weeks of travel on the road, we are now back at home in Orillia. We've been home a few days now, and it is a little strange readjusting to not being constantly on the move. We had an excellent run of programs in our time away, however, and met lots of great people. We hope that everyone who attended our programs really enjoyed learning about the animals, and is now keeping their eyes open for any reptile species that may be out on the roads this fall. Our last day of travel programs was spent in Merlin and Blenheim, with large groups at both libraries. No more trouble with the van and trailer either! In the last couple days we've been doing a few programs closer to home, our closest one of the summer being last Saturday evening at Bass Lake Provincial Park. We often get asked at programs where we are travelling from, and it was nice after being away for so long to be able to tell them that we were only ten minutes down the road. We were outside for the program and had a few concerns with all the blustery weather this week, but most of the rain stayed away that evening. We'll be finishing up our last few summer Reptiles at Risk programs over the next couple weeks, still staying close by, as well as starting to pull together our fall schedule. Looking forward to keeping you posted! http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/08/back_in_orillia_1.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/08/back_in_orillia_1.php Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:16:41 -0500 When chatting with the people to come to our programs, we almost always have at least a few who are very nervous about the snakes we travel with. While we understand that snakes are a very common fear, these fears are often built on misconceptions and inaccurate information. At our program last night we were very excited to hear several people talking about the 'Puff Adders' that they saw near their houses, but were also sad to hear that most were afraid of these snakes. True Puff Adders are not found anywhere in Ontario, but the description of these snakes matches the Eastern Hognose Snake - a perfectly harmless, and very interesting at risk species that can be found in Ontario. While the Eastern Hognose Snake varys greatly in colour - from an olive green to brown, orange and black - they can easily be identified by their behavior. There are many different fears associated with the defensive behavior of the Hognose Snake. When these snakes feel threatened, they rear up and flare their head making themselves appear larger and more intimidating. This act can also progress to hissing and false striking, however this snake is non-venomous and completely harmless! These strikes are usually done with a closed mouth and very little aim, so even if the snake made contact it likely would not hurt at all. One could easily see how people would be wary of an animal with this type of behavior, and that is exactly why the snake puts on such an act. Unfortunately this will lead some people to kill the snake out of fear, and that is the last thing that we want to hear happen to any animal. After this impressive display, however, the Hognose Snake will change tactics completely. When the flaring and hissing act fails they will actually move on to roll on their back, stick out their tongue, and play dead. They are fairly convincing with this part of their act as well! A snake that appears dead is usually far less intimidating than one which appears ready to strike, but in both cases we have nothing to fear from this snake. The Hognose Snake is rarely seen in the wild, and they are a threatened species, so those we spoke to at last night's program are very lucky to be able to see them. These snakes are a perfect example of how we can percieve an animal to be dangerous and frightening, when they will actually do us no harm. Robin http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/08/species_profile_eastern_hognos.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/08/species_profile_eastern_hognos.php Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:40:19 -0500 Last week was an exciting day for the RAR crew, as we had visitors from the Ojibway-Prarie Complex come to our program in La Salle. Not only did they hand out cool snake stickers and books, they also offered to bring us back to the Ojibway-Prarie Complex nature centre. While there, we were able to enjoy seeing some of the reptiles that they had on display, which included a Massasauga Rattlesnake, a Butler's Garter, and a juvenile Blanding's Turtle. We were also fortunate enough to see a coyote right outside the centre, which as far as mammals go, is pretty cool. In other news, Robin bought a spiffy pair of snow pants in preparation for winter. That's our Robin - always prepared. However, there is still plenty of summer left to enjoy, and thanks to Robin's preparatory skills, we already completed our 80th program! We also reached number 90 today so we will probably be uncorking something later on in celebration. Brittany http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/08/fun_with_a_special_guest.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/08/fun_with_a_special_guest.php Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:50:55 -0500 We headed out from Wheatley Provincial Park yesterday for the last time this trip. The staff at the park have been great, and we really enjoyed staying there for the last several days. Of course this meant that we had the trailer in tow, which added a little excitement to the day. Our first stop of the day was the Windsor Fire Fest, which promised to be an exciting event. At first we tried to take the shortest way their - the hypotenuse of the triangle, as Brittany reminded us - however we somehow missed a turn and ended up going around the triangle anyway. With both van and trailer on the road, our usual turn around for the road we missed was really not an option. We were running a little late when we drove through Windsor on the way to the program site, and make what we believe will be our final turn before arrival. Then we find ourselves in a tiny, residential dead end road. This was really not where we wanted to be, and after a few valiant attempts by driver Eric, we realized we were not going to be able to turn in the small space. Unhitching and moving the van was our only option, and we luckily ran into a very kind man living nearby who was a huge help in getting us back on track. A big thank you goes out to he and his friends from Barrie! From there we went on to the Fire Fest, and the animals were recieved very well. On from there to the Tomato Festival in Leamington, Tomato Capital of Canada! The highlight of my day was here where I won a giant bottle of ketchup - we know we'll be having lots of ketchup-using foods for the rest of our trip. Then our last show of the day was at Rondeau Provincial Park, where we stayed for the night. The audience was already very informed and enthusiastic, and chanted us on to start as soon as we arrived. Though it was overall a busy day, in the end we were happy with how all the programs went. Tomorrow we move to Pinery Provincial Park with the trailer again - who knows what excitement will be in store for us then! Robin http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/08/travelling_with_trailers.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/08/travelling_with_trailers.php Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:06:36 -0500 As I write this I am sitting on a picnic table surrounded by drying laundry. Since we had a bit less happening this week, it was a great opportunity to wash some of the clothing piling up in the trailer. Unfortunately, not long after we lay all our clothes out to dry it started pouring rain, and continued all day. We did think about going to use a dryer, but it was hot enough today that things dried fairly quickly out in the sun. On Sunday this week we had an excellent day at Pelee National Park. It was beautiful looking out on Lake Erie from the point, and as the most southern point of mainland Canada, this park has incredible diversity of wildlife. We heard many reports of people seeing Northern Water Snakes, Eastern Fox Snakes, Snapping Turtles and Five-Lined Skinks around the park. The skink is one that we were very excited to hear about, because as Ontario's only lizard species they are often overlooked. These pretty little lizards are very shy and don't come out in the open very often, however they are very beautiful to see. Their brown body has five yellow lines running down it's back, and when it is young it has a bright blue tail - and this tail can be dropped as a distraction for predators who try to eat the skink. This is one reason why it is very important not to disturb these creatures in the wild. The tail also serves as a storage space for fat and energy from food, and the lizard can use this reserve in harder times when food is unavailable. The lizard can't tell the difference between a curious human and a hungry predator, and if a person picks them up they may drop their tail. They will be able to grow it back with time, but if food is scarce it may not be able to survive without their energy reserve. The Five-Lined Skink is another one of Ontario's reptiles at risk, which is another reason not to disturb them. There are not many of them left in the wild, so they need our protection - like many other species that can be found on Point Pelee! Robin http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/08/point_pelee_and_the_fivelined.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/08/point_pelee_and_the_fivelined.php Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:16:46 -0500 Over the past few programs, we have talked to many people who have seen Eastern Fox Snakes on their properties. We are incredibly envious of these people! Fox Snakes are amazing animals, and these people are very lucky to see them on a regular basis. The Eastern Fox Snake is one of Ontario's largest species of snake, growing up to 2 metres in legnth. Their range in Ontario includes the shores of Georgian Bay, and some spots on the northern shore of Lake Erie. These areas make up over 70% of the world's range for Eastern Fox Snakes! Being Ontario's newest endangered reptile, they need our help. One of the main problems is that they are not well known! A large proportion of people who live in Fox Snake territory do not realize that these animals are endangered. Among other problems for these snakes, habitat loss and human persecution are big factors in their decline; land owners have a huge role in their conservation. Fox Snakes will twitch and shake their tail in anything that will make noise if they are threatened. This leads a lot of people to believe that they are rattlesnakes; we notice that people around the Georgian Bay area will often call these snakes "Hardwood Rattlers". Fox snakes are completely harmless, nonvenomous snakes; this name gives them an undeserved bad reputation. Down here in the Windsor area, they are more often called "Copperheads" by the locals. This is understandable, since they do have orange, "coppery" heads. However, Copperheads are a type of venomous snake in the United States and cannot be found anywhere in Canada. The difference in the appearance of these snakes is vast, but unfortunately most people have just heard the name "Copperhead" and associate it with the snakes they see in their back yard. This confusion surrounding the Fox Snake is a big reason for their decline, as when people associate a snake with danger, they are more likely to kill the snake. There is absolutely no reason to kill these harmless snakes, but it is equally important to conserve their habitat. Fox Snakes need trees to survive; they have specially designed bodies that allow them to climb trees with ease and find food, escape from predators, and regulate body temperature. In order to conserve these amazing animals, we need to be educating people who live in these areas about them. This is how the project works, and this is why I love my job. -Eric. http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/08/species_profile_eastern_fox_sn.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/08/species_profile_eastern_fox_sn.php Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:58:01 -0500 Road trips aren't road trips without a diesel powered Ford van of unknown origins that has been on the planet longer than you have. What would I have to write about if the fan belt had not fallen off or if the wires to the brake lights of the trailer had not started to smoulder on the highway? I suppose I could write about sharks... but first I'll say a giant thank you to the wonderful people out there who helped out the RAR crew with all of the vehicular issues that we have experienced. First, to Ricky, a lovely man in the Lowes parking lot who stayed with us for an unreasonably long time trying to figure out how best to repair the brake lights to the trailer without getting electrocuted. Also, to the fine mechanics who offered their services and tools free of charge- Paul in Simcoe and his master mechanic buddy - thus restoring the use of brakes and by extension the ability to drive safely. Now, about those sharks. Mainly, sharks are not reptiles. This seems to be a topic of much contention, being that like the crocodilians, they are big and have lots of teeth. However, as they do not breathe with lungs, they are not reptilian. Sharks are really just fish with cartilage. Speaking of things that are not reptilian, newts, salamanders, and frogs are also not reptiles. It is a common enough error, being that these animals and reptiles are together known as the herpetiles. Newts, salamanders, and frogs actually belong to another group called amphibians. Although amphibians are ectothermic like reptiles, they do not have scales and their young live and breathe underwater before adapting to life on land. Now go forth and impress your friends with your classification skills. -Brittany http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/08/adventures_in_a_van_or_concern.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/08/adventures_in_a_van_or_concern.php Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:48:54 -0500 So in the Frontenac area we had a busy weekend at the Perth Music Festival and the Smith Falls Chocolate and Railway festival, but after that it was great to have Monday as a day off on the road. The rest of the staff at our centre came to Murphy's Point to visit, and we had a fun day in the sun, hiking around the park. We only had two programs the next day, before heading home for a week. Now we are on our second day in the Long Point area, on the North shores of Lake Erie, after what was a bit of a shaky start. The three of us haven't travelled very much with the van and trailer before, but after a couple of electrical issues when we left home we seem to be getting the hang of things! A big thanks to a gentleman from Brampton who was kind enough to help us out along the way. This unfortunately meant we had to reschedule our visit to the Bayham Public Library to next Tuesday at 5pm, but we made it fine to our next two programs and were able to stay at Port Burwell Provincial Park for the night. We are now parked at Turkey Point Provincial Park, and will be using that as home base for the next few days. The interesting thing about the programs now is the number of animals that we are talking about in our programs. Long Point is just such an amazing place to find reptiles that we have to include more species than any other place we have been to so far! With turtles, for example, it is possible to find 7 of Ontario's 8 species of turtle around this area. At our programs we are talking about three main ones, but everyone seems to agree that the Spotted Turtle is one of the cutest animals we travel with. They are one of Ontario's smallest species of turtles (and Eric's favourite, by the way), and have bright yellow or orange spots all over their head and shell. They are not often seen though, because the usually come out earlier in the year, and are very picky about where they live - they like bogs and swamp like areas. There's not many areas like this left though, so it is fantastic that they can still be found around here. Robin http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/07/the_travelling_begins_again_on.php http://www.reptilesatrisk.org/2009/07/the_travelling_begins_again_on.php Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:09:30 -0500