Species Showdown: save the Massasuaga rattlesnake!

Publié lemai 17, 2019parJonathan D. Choquette, PhD|Crotale massasauga, Actualités et événements

What is the Ojibway Prairie Reptile Recovery Program? The Ojibway Prairie Complex and Greater Park Ecosystem (OPCGPE) in Ontario’s Windsor-LaSalle region is home to several reptile species threatened by urban development, habitat fragmentation and road mortality, including eastern foxsnakes, Butler’s gartersnakes, Blanding’s turtles and a critically endangered population of massasauga rattlesnakes. The Ojibway Prairie Reptile Recovery Team (OPRREC) works to protect and monitor these species.⁠

Endangered in Carolinian Ontario. Less than 25 individuals left in the wild.

Amount Raised: $1,340

About the Species:

Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes face a number of threats, including habitat loss, road mortality, intentional killing, and illegal collection for the pet trade. While at-risk throughout its range in Ontario, the massasauga rattlesnake population in the Ojibway Prairie is critically small, making it extremely sensitive to threats and at a high risk for local extinction.

Our Hands-on Action:

In 2015 Wildlife Preservation Canada launched the Ojibway Prairie Reptile Recovery program (OPRREC), to protect and connect critical habitat, reduce threats, conduct public outreach, and prepare for long-term population augmentation using techniques such as conservation breeding and translocation. A robust monitoring regime will allow us to evaluate the success of our recovery efforts and to change our techniques as required.

Help the Crotale massasauga win the Species Showdown!

Make a donation below to show your support.

Why Jon wants you to sponsor his favourite species:

Jonathan Choquette

Biologiste principal – Rétablissement des reptiles de la prairie Ojibway

Jonathan Choquette manages the recovery program for the Ojibway population of the massasauga rattlesnake in Southern Ontario. Jonathan is a habitat expert, studying both biology and landscape architecture at the University of Guelph. Jonathan has published numerous articles about the importance of habitat for reptiles and amphibians.