Search for Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes
Written by Mark Rupke Thursday, 18 September 2008 22:24
They have a thick body and are usually olive coloured with noticeable blotches on the body. The Hog-nosed snake, sometimes referred to as a “Puff Adder,” is completely harmless despite its bizarre and often frightening defence behaviour. It convincingly mimics a cobra when disturbed, often scaring people who may end up harming the snake in self-defense. This is why education about the Hog-nosed is so important.
For twenty years Mark Rupke has been educating local students about the outdoors and wildlife. Now he has a new assignment, to find and document eastern hog-nosed snakes in Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada. The Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority and Alderville First Nation hired Rupke to raise awareness about the hog-nosed snake, and to identify the locations where this elusive snake can be found.“The first time I saw an Eastern Hog-nosed snake it gave me quite a start. I was out with a university class studying plant taxonomy in a dune area near Lake Michigan when, all of a sudden, a snake I had never seen before reared up, flared its neck, and hissed,” says Rupke.
“Fortunately, my teacher knew all about the Hog-nosed snake. As we circled around, it realized we were not running away so it appeared to have a seizure, fall on its back and die with a shiver, tongue hanging out and all. It was quite an act.”
This summer, Rupke is working on the Snakes on the Plain project, now in its second year. Last summer, this joint initiative saw the development of a pamphlet and signs urging people to protect the snakes. The materials educate readers on how to identify the snake, explain its behaviour and talk about its at-risk status. Also included are contact details to report sightings.
Last year the coordinator attended local public events to raise awareness about this threatened species and urged people who encounter it not to harm it. Instead, people are encouraged to report sightings and, if possible, take photographs. The sightings reports allow the partners to map where the snakes occur locally.
“We know there is a population within and around the Northumberland forest, but we would like more records to determine the full extent of their range and the size of the population,” notes Rupke.
“When we visit likely snake habitat areas and ask about the Hog-nosed, one person will have stories and photographs clearly documenting their presence, while a homeowner down the road may never have seen one. The snakes like to avoid people when they can.”
When he was offered the summer position of Snakes on the Plain coordinator, Rupke knew it would be a way to put much of his experience to good use. “So far, I am really enjoying it,” says Rupke. “Especially the interaction with the public and searching for this elusive snake.”
This study is being carried through funding from Environment Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program.
