Emergency Wildlife Removal Brampton

Introduction

Welcome to our Interactive Snake Sightings Map for Brampton, Ontario! This guide will help you explore the fascinating, different nonvenomous snakes found in our local area, from head to tail. After lizards, venomous and non-venomous snakes are the second largest group of reptiles. There are three taxonomic families of snake species in Canada – Colubridae, Boidae, and Viperidae. Brampton is home to many snakes of different species, 17 species or subspecies (suborder Serpentes) in total, each playing a crucial role in our ecosystem. While there are many people that don’t like snakes, it’s important to understand that very few snakes in our region pose any danger to humans. Some people have an extreme fear of snakes known as ophidiophobia, symptoms include a rapid heartbeat, anxiety, sweating, and can lead to a fear of venturing outside. To be fair though, snakes are harmless. In fact, of the several species of different snakes found in Ontario, only three are venomous, and only one is harmful to humans – the Massasauga rattlesnake, which is never seen in Brampton. You’re more likely to see these poisonous snakes, along with other reptiles, on the Bruce Peninsula or on the eastern side of Georgian Bay.

Understanding Snakes

Most all snakes in Ontario play a crucial role in our ecosystem, the specialized form of many species contributing to biodiversity and managing pest populations by way of what prey they eat. These remarkable reptiles have adapted to various habitats, from forests to wetlands. One of the snake’s unique traits is its lack of external ear openings and limbs, though some species have vestigial hind limbs. Snakes shed their skin a couple of times a year, the old skin will liquefy and loosen, and the snake crawls out, discarding the dead skin. The scales on a snake help to reduce friction as it travels over rocks or stones, they would have to reduce friction or they risk cuts and scrapes along the tail. They do not have external ears on their head. Snakes are ectotherms, which means they cannot generate their own body temperature. This is why many people will see snakes laying out on rocks on a sunny day. Pythons have been found in Ontario, but they usually end up being an escaped or abandoned pet in most cases. Of the 17 different Suborder Serpentes (types of snakes) in Ontario, 7 of them lay eggs and 10 of them have a live birth. Most snakes will bury their eggs in the ground and abandon them, or they will have a live birth and then abandon them, with the exception of pythons and pit vipers. Pit vipers have long hollow fangs at the front of their mouth that are hinged. Snakes are ectotherms and they rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature. Pit vipers are able to sense a change in the temperature in as little as one third of a degree Fahrenheit. Many snake species prefer to use their lower jaw to bite and kill warm blooded prey for food, ie. small mammals, rodents etc., while other snake species will kill and eat cold blooded prey, such as frogs, toads, insects, and some burrowing lizards. They can swallow prey whole. Several species of snakes have grooved teeth in their mouth, at the back of their upper jaw. If you see a snake with a fat pelvic girdle, it’s possible that it just recently ate. They use a forked tongue and Jacobson’s organ, which is on the roof of their mouth, to “smell” their surroundings, this helps them to detect food, any potential threats, or other snakes. Most of the deaths that occur yearly from snake bite venom happen from venomous snakes in Southeast Asia.

A fascinating aspect of a snake’s body is that it periodically goes through a process called ecdysis. This is when snakes shed their skin. This not only allows for growth but also helps remove parasites, emerging with a fresh, new outer layer. Reproduction among snake species is diverse; some snakes lay eggs while other snakes give birth to live young. The sex organs are located at the base of the male’s tail. Most species of snakes abandon their young shortly after birth, except for pythons and pit vipers. Interestingly, even closely related species can vary in their method of reproduction. Snakes utilize an elastic ligament in their lower jaws, allowing them to consume prey, and eat animals much larger than their own head. While they may be feared for their bite, snakes are often more threatened by predators than they are a threat to humans. Thus, protecting these enigmatic creatures, and many other species for that matter, is essential for maintaining the eco-balance of nature in Ontario.

Snake Species in Brampton

Eastern Garter Snake

• Most common species of snakes found in Brampton
• Non-venomous, rarely bite
• Often found in gardens and parks
• This species have a live birth, they do not lay eggs

Northern Water Snake

• Aquatic snake, often mistaken for venomous species
• Non-venomous but, like other species, can be aggressive and bite if threatened
• Its prey includes frogs, toads, minnows, and even small mouth bass

Eastern Milk Snake

• Colourful head and body, not venomous but often mistaken for venomous coral snakes (which are not found in Ontario)
• Non-venomous and beneficial for controlling rodent populations
• Coral snakes have a red band of colour next to a yellow band, while milk snakes have a red band next to a black band
• Prey includes mice, rats, moles, birds, and bird eggs

Northern Red-bellied Snake

• Small, secretive snake
• Non-venomous and harmless to humans
• Prey includes slugs, snails, earthworms, and small lizards like a salamander

Smooth Green Snake

• Bright green coloration provides excellent camouflage in grassy areas
• Non-venomous and docile
• Prey includes caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles and crickets

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake

• Known for its unique defensive behavior of flattening its head and hissing like a rattlesnake
• Nonvenomous snakes but may play dead if threatened
• Their main prey is toads which they can dig out of the ground

Ring-necked Snake

• Small, secretive snake with a distinctive ring around its neck
• Non-venomous species and rarely seen snake due to its shy nature

Massasauga Rattlesnake

• Ontario’s only venomous snake
• Don’t worry, this rattlesnake does not reside in the Brampton area, these poisonous rattlesnakes are more common near Georgian Bay
• This certain species of snakes is protected due to its threatened status

Adder Snakes

• There are no adder snakes anywhere in Canada
• This is the only snake species that lives in the Arctic Circle, mainly in Russia and Scandinavia

Snake Behaviour and Diet

Snakes are carnivorous and primarily eat small warm blooded prey such as animals, birds, and other critters, their lower jaw wrapping around their prey. Some snakes are able to climb trees to locate food such as bird eggs. Many snakes can swallow food prey much larger than their own head due to their highly flexible lower jaws. Venomous snakes, like the Massasauga rattlesnake, use their venom in subduing prey and it aids in digestion. Compared to all the venomous snake species in the world, the bite from a Massasauga Rattlesnake is really the least dangerous. It can kill a mouse but with humans it may cause dizziness and blurry sight

Snakes move using several methods, with lateral undulation being the most common method, the concertina locomotion is another way some of them move. Some can even travel in a straight line. Some species can also climb trees or burrow underground. Most species of snakes lay eggs but some snakes are live bearing. Baby snakes born by live birth are deserted shortly afterwards to fend on their own. With regards to egg laying snakes, very few snakes stay with or take care of their eggs, generally abandoning them once they lay them. Despite lacking limbs, snakes are highly adaptable and can thrive in various environments. For example, did you know that there is a species of snakes that live in the Arctic Circle? It’s called the Adder Snake, and mainly lives in Russia and Scandinavia

Snake Safety and Coexistence

While encountering a snake can be startling, it’s important to remember that snakes are fairly harmless, they won’t normally bite and they generally try to avoid human contact altogether. If you do see a snake:

1. Keep your distance and observe the snake species from afar
2. Do not attempt to handle or kill the snake
3. If in your yard, gently spray it with a garden hose to encourage it to move along, most snakes will move off

Remember, most snakes play a vital role in controlling rodent populations and maintaining ecological balance. Learning to coexist with these fascinating creatures is key to preserving Brampton’s biodiversity.

Using the Interactive Snake Sightings Map

Our map allows you to:

1. Report snake sightings in Brampton
2. View recent sightings of snakes/types by species and location
3. Learn more about each snake species or any other reptiles spotted in our area

By contributing to this community-driven project, you’re helping create a valuable resource for wildlife conservation and education in Brampton.

Quick Interesting Facts About Snakes

From mountains to oceans, from deserts to forests, snakes inhabit almost every ecosystem on earth

Snakes can smell with their tongues

Snakes are able to “see” heat. They have the distinctive ability for detecting infrared radiation, giving them sort of a thermal imaging of any prey or predators nearby

Snakes can change, or shed, their skin. A snake can perform this anywhere between four to twelve times per year

A snakes’ venom can both kill and cure, snake venom is collected for research and to produce anti-venom. Anti-venom can save a persons life if they’ve been bit by rattlesnakes or pythons, etc.

Snakes are not slimy, their scales are made of keratin, the same material as fingernails and hair

Snakes are cool and dry to the touch

In order to survive the winter in Canada, snakes hibernate in sandy soils, hollow logs or burrows

A snake can open its mouth approximately 150 degrees (a straight line is 180 degrees)

Snakes are solitary creatures

Snakes can go months between meals

Pythons are the only species of snake that cares for its eggs

Pythons can range anywhere from 2 feet to 34 feet in length

Pythons are ambush predators, meaning they do not stalk their prey but instead they wait for prey to come close to them

Conclusion

Brampton’s snake population is diverse and fascinating, ranging from the common garter snake to the rare Massasauga rattlesnake. By understanding these creatures and their importance to our ecosystem, we can foster a community that appreciates and protects its natural heritage. Remember, every sighting you report contributes to our knowledge and conservation efforts. Let’s work together to ensure Brampton remains a thriving habitat for all its scaly residents!