Download Conservation of Reptiles and Amphibians in Norfolk County

Conservation of
Reptiles and
Amphibians in
Norfolk County
Scott D. Gillingwater
Species At Risk Biologist
Upper Thames River Conservation
Authority
In Ontario, 7 of 8 types of
turtle, 11 of 18 types of
snake, our only lizard and
1/3 of all our amphibians
are listed as at risk. Most
of these species occur in
Norfolk County
A problem is apparent
Meet and Greet
Some of My Clients
Scott Gillingwater
THREATENED!
Spotted Turtle
Spiny Softshell
EndangerED!
Snapping Turtle
Blanding’s Turtle
Special Concern
THREATENED
E. Musk Turtle
THREATENED
N. Map Turtle
Special Concern
E.Hog-nosed
Snake
Milksnake
THREATENED
E.Foxsnake
SPECIAL CONCERN
ENDANGERED
ENDANGERED
Queensnake
Fowler’s Toad
ENDANGERED
Jefferson Salamander
ENDANGERED
Why are turtles so “at risk”?
• Low reproductive success: very few,
perhaps 1%, survive from egg to adult.
• Late age of maturity: it can take up to 18
years for a female to begin laying eggs.
• Long lifespan: turtles have a very LOW
natural death rate (only 1% per year) so even a
small increase in the number of adults taken
out of a population unnaturally has a significant
negative impact.
=1%
Reasons for the gradual loss of our
turtles and snakes:
London
Southern Ontario is one the
most heavily populated
areas in all of Canada.
It is also the area of
greatest biodiversity in
Canada.
Reptiles are forced to compete against development and
the increasing human population in Southern Ontario.
The resulting threats include…
Limiting Factors
• Habitat Loss/
Degradation
• Road Mortality
• Improper
Agricultural
Practices
• Pollution (Direct
and Indirect)
• Persecution
• Predation
• Collection
Road Mortality
Long Point
Causeway
Improvement
Project
Lake Erie
Long Point Bay
Big Creek
National
Wildlife Area
Solutions are Difficult
• Development will not
end
• Subsidized predators
adapt easily to new
challenges
• The human population
in southern Ontario
continues to grow
• Out of sight, out of
mind – not enough
education or funding
opportunities exist
Rare Reptile Research and Education
Program in Southwestern Ontario
• Since 1994, a long-term reptile
research and recovery initiative
has been active in
southwestern Ontario
• Initial surveys for the spiny
softshell turtle later evolved into
long-term research and education
efforts directed at a number of
reptile species
• Targeted areas have included a
number of river and lake sites in
southwestern Ontario
SCIENCE
• The collection of long-term
data has been a key
component, necessary for
the effective recovery of
species and habitat in this
region.
• Detailed surveys and
research programs have
been initiated on a number
of species within lake,
marsh and river
habitats.
Radio Telemetry
Useful for:
-Seasonal movements
-Habitat selection and use
-Home range
-Susceptibility to local threats
-Behaviour
-Urban and rural ecology
Mark-recapture Studies
• Provide base data on
populations
• Population monitored over
the long-term
• Habitat use data collected
• File notches into hardshelled turtle species, and
PIT tag soft-shelled turtle
and snake species
• Both marking techniques
provide some degree of
protection from poaching
Surveys
• Revisiting historic
sites
• Investigating recent
public sightings
• Exploring potential
new sites
Putting Knowledge Gained To Good
Use
• Habitat Identification
• Habitat Creation (ie. turtle nest
sites, snake hibernacula)
• Nest Protection
• Input Into Recovery Documents
linking single species recovery
strategies with multi-species
initiatives
• Influence Planning Decisions
• Increased Enforcement
What’s being done?
Spiny Softshell Turtle Example:
Enhancing and maintaining
natural nest sites.
Creating artificial nest sites.
Protecting nests from predators
(raccoons, skunks, foxes, etc).
What’s being done?
Results:
Greater hatching success!
Spiny softshell turtle eggs.
Eggs hatch in 60 to 90 days.
Results
• Located and studied the
largest populations of
Blanding’s, Softshell and
Spotted Turtles in Canada
• Have influenced recovery
actions, as well as federal
and provincial legislation
• Planning decisions now
include SAR reptile needs in
the many areas where they
exist
Education
• Community Awareness
• Landowner Education
and Support
• Multi-group
Involvement
• Evolving Education
Programs
• Media participation
Fact Sheets
Public
Involvement
-Public reporting
-Volunteerism when and where
appropriate
-Help inspire and support local
champions
-Assist interested landowners
with making informed
decisions for their properties
-Support appropriate best
management practices for
agricultural lands
-Work with the
City/Municipality in planning
decisions
SPINY SOFTSHELL TURTLE
STEWARDSHIP GUIDE
• Incorporates landowners
and land users into SAR
recovery
• Allows community
involvement to sustain
recovery work
• Provides a strong link to
community members
• Generates interest in
otherwise overlooked
species
• Assists the recovery team
in achieving recovery
objectives
Community Group and School Visits
• Interactive native reptile
presentations with
high quality visuals
and hands-on learning
sessions
• training and
environmental
outreach, to build
awareness and pride of
Ontario’s unique natural
heritage
Results
• Since 1994 the program has reached over 70,000
people directly through talks, displays and other
initiatives (Middlesex, Norfolk, Lambton, Elgin,
Oxford, Essex, Chatham-Kent).
• Many more through local and national radio,
television, Discovery Channel, magazines,
newspapers, newsletters...
• Reptile education programs were developed to fit
the current curriculum needs
• New sites and populations have been identified by
community members
Long Point Basin Land Trust
Conserving Carolinian Reptiles Project
Gregor Beck Update
• The project comprises three main areas: surveys and atlassing;
outreach and education; and, reptile habitat creation and
monitoring. Tangible outcomes include:
• Over 150 people have participated in reptile atlassing over two
seasons from across Norfolk, Haldimand and Elgin Counties
• Over 1,000 records have been contributed to the reptile
reporting program
• Extensive inland and roads-based surveys completed, including
data from professional surveys and partner groups
• 25 on-the-ground habitats have been created in Norfolk County,
including hibernacula, snake nesting, and turtle nesting sites
and related habitat improvements.
The Future…
• 1. Conduct surveys of known populations to determine spatial
extent and quality of available habitat
• 2. Assess the significance of specific threats facing populations
• 3. Conduct intensive demographic studies at selected sites
across each species’ range to determine key life history
requirements
• 4. Determine habitat use of juveniles and adults (e.g. nesting,
foraging, and hibernation sites)
• 5. Encourage the permanent marking of all handled turtles so
that illegally collected turtles can be identified when confiscated
• 6. Develop and promote best management practices (BMPs)
for land owners and municipal planners
Invasive Plant Succession
• Large increases in non-native
phragmites and European frogbit are
invading marsh habitats
• Information on phragmites stand size
and location adjacent to known SAR
turtle habitat will need to be collected
• Continue to investigate control
measures
The Habitat Stewardship Program for Species At Risk, Provincial Species At Risk
Stewardship Fund and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority help make
this program successful through financial and in-kind support.