Finding Elgin's Rare Amphibians and Reptiles

Note:  Killing, harassing, handling, capturing or collecting protected species is not allowed without a special permit

Species

Suggested Techniques

TURTLES

Spotted Turtle

1. Scan for basking turtles in April and May from the shallow but cool waters of marshes, bog lakes and channels and woodland ponds.  2. Look for nesting females in sandy areas near breeding sites in June.  Note: Spotted Turtles are generally inactive from late June to July, making detection difficult.  

Blanding’s Turtle

1. From April onward, scan stumps and logs in secluded bays, lakes and open marshes for basking turtles.  2. In the early evening from late May to early June, look for nesting females in sandy areas.  3. Cruise for roadkills during the nesting period. 

Spiny Softshell

 1.  Explore broad, slow-moving, muddy rivers or soft-bottomed marshes, lake bays or ponds in southern Ontario.  Note: This aquatic species is very wary and only occasionally basks, but if you’re lucky and have sharp eyes, you may spot the tips of their long snouts sticking out of the water

Snapping Turtle

1. Look for nesting females at night from late May to late June.  Snapping Turtles prefer areas where sandy beaches, soft earth or gravel are available, typically near large bodies of water. They often take advantage of man-made structures for nest sites, including the gravel shoulders of roads, dams and aggregate pits. 2. Cruise for roadkills during the egg-laying period.  3. Snapping Turtles do not generally bask, but on cool sunny days do sometimes warm up on a rock or log in a wetland. 

SNAKES & LIZARDS

Butler’s Garter Snake

1. Look under rocks, logs, etc., in wet meadows, marshes, the margins of lakes and streams, and prairie-like grassland habitat, carefully replacing the cover to its original position afterwards.

Eastern Foxsnake

1. Explore woodlands near marshes, beaches and shores from May to July and once again in late autumn. 

Gray Ratsnake

1. May be found in open woodlands, uplands, old pastures and fields, and rocky, scrubby country, often away from water, especially in May.  2. Cruise roads for snakes basking on roads and other open spots in May, late August and September.

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake

1. May be found in sandy areas in fields and open woodlands, particularly where toads, the preferred prey, are present. 

Eastern Ribbonsnake

1. May be found under flat rocks and other debris along the margins of marshes, bogs, ponds and streams; always replace any disturbed cover carefully to original position.  2. Scan for individuals sunning on logs in water.

Milksnake

1. This primarily nocturnal species can be found under stones, logs, boards or sheets of metal near farm buildings or in fields or open woodlands.  2. Scan sunny areas for basking snakes.

Five-Lined Skink (lizard)

1. May be found under rocks, logs, boards or other debris; always return any disturbed cover carefully to original position.  2. Scan exposed rocks, logs or hot sand for individuals basking.

FROGS & TOADS

Fowler’s Toad

1. Conduct call counts at night in late May and June.  Note: Found only along or near sandy Lake Erie shorelines.

SALAMANDERS

Jefferson Salamander

1. Explore temporary and permanent woodland ponds at night in spring (March, April) for breeding congregations and egg masses. 2. Check breeding ponds from May to July for larvae.  3. During snow-free seasons, turn cover (logs, rocks and debris) near breeding ponds. 4. Drive secondary roads at night in late-March, April and May looking for adults migrating to breeding ponds.