Blue Racer

One of Ontario’s largest snakes, blue racers are slender blue-grey snakes with a black mask around the eyes and white undersides. Reaching almost 2 metres in length, they prey on rodents, insects, birds, and other snakes.

Butler’s Gartersnake

Despite its smaller size and secretive behavior, the Butler’s gartersnake has a smaller range than most of Ontario’s snake species. Although it looks very similar to other Ontario snakes, the Butler’s gartersnake is unique in its diet, habitat, and range.
Blanchard’s Cricket Frog (Acris blanchardi)

Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

A subspecies of the northern cricket frog, Blanchard’s cricket frog is the most aquatic type of tree frog in North America. Despite many searches, there hasn’t been a confirmed record of this species in Canada since the early 1970s.
Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)

Blanding’s Turtle

Habitat loss and fragmentation, and nest predation by raccoons and skunks, are the most significant threats to Blanding’s turtle populations. Other threats include motor vehicle collisions and illegal collection for the pet trade.
Eastern foxsnake (Pantherophis gloydi)

Eastern Foxsnake

Although eastern foxsnakes have proven to be adaptable when it comes to humans encroaching on their territory — for example, using sheds and other structures for shelter — increased development is putting this unique species at risk.
Fowlers toad (Anaxyrus fowlerii)

Fowler’s Toad

Fowler’s toad is facing a severe threat of extirpation from Canada. They occur in Canada only along the northern shore of Lake Erie in extreme southern Ontario. One of the biggest threats facing Fowler's toad habitat is the spread of an invasive reed.

Massasauga Rattlesnake

The Massasauga is Ontario’s only remaining venomous reptile, but despite widespread persecution, it poses little threat to public safety. In First Nations traditions, the Massasauga is the medicine keeper of the land.
Northern map turtle (Graptemys geographica)

Northern Map Turtle

Water pollution poses a serious threat to northern map turtles, killing off the molluscs that female turtles depend on. In addition, invading zebra mussels in the Great Lakes region have crowded out native molluscs.

Oregon Spotted Frog

Now on the brink of extirpation from Canada, this frog is found only in British Columbia's lower Fraser Valley, where it is believed that only 300 breeding individuals remain in small, widely scattered remnant populations.
Snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

Snapping Turtle

Snapping turtles are hunted, poached and hit by vehicles. Since they can take nearly 20 years to reach maturity, removing even a few adult snapping turtles can pose a serious threat to the population.
Spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera)

Spiny Softshell Turtle

Due to shoreline development and agricultural activity, spiny softshell turtles have faced significant habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation. They are easily disturbed during nesting.
Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata)

Spotted Turtle

Spotted turtles are the most cold-tolerant Ontario turtle species and are the first to emerge to bask in the spring — sometimes sunning themselves next to mounds of melting snow.
Western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) Pacific Coast Population

Western Painted Turtle

Western painted turtles prefer the shallow waters of ponds, lakes, marshes and slow-moving streams. They are the largest subspecies of painted turtle, with a shell that can reach 25 cm long.

© 2023 Wildlife Preservation Canada

Wildlife Preservation Canada
5420 Highway 6 North
Guelph, ON N1H 6J2

Toll free 1 (800) 956-6608
Phone 1 (519) 836-9314
admin@wildlifepreservation.ca

Privacy and social media policy

Territory Acknowledgement

WPC is headquartered in Guelph, Ontario on the homelands of many nations, including the Anishinaabek, Neutral, Métis, Mississauga, and Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and on the treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We work across Turtle Island, and have deep gratitude to all the Indigenous Peoples who have been, and continue to be, stewards and protectors the lands on which we rely.

Follow us on social

Charitable Registration No.

89171 0535 RR0001