Gray Rat Snake
Young Grey Rat Snake just emerging from egg while nesting box was being checked last fall.
Canada’s longest snake has recently had a name change, the snake commonly known as the Black ratsnake is now called the Gray ratsnake. The name change is a result of genetics that make the snakes found in this area different from the Black ratsnakes commonly found in the United States. The Gray Ratsnake is listed as “threatened” on the Ontario Species at Risk list. In 2005 with funding support from OMNR(CFWIP), Garnet Baker and Dwayne Struthers designed and built 12 wood framed, wire mesh nesting boxes to provide protection from egg predators. The structures have been deployed throughout Leeds County. They are filled annually with a variety of compost substrates designed to maintain a temperature around 30 degrees Celsius, which is necessary for egg incubation.
In 2011 LGSC refilled four of the nest boxes with a mixture of hay, wood chips and leaves and installed temperature monitors provided by the OMNR
to maintain our long-term seasonal temperature data set. The remaining boxes were refilled by the landowners. In the fall, 151 hatched rat snake eggs were found in two structures at Dr Ross's and Landon Bay. To the best of our knowledge, these are the only successful artificial nesting structures for gray rat snakes in North America.
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If you are interested in building and installing a nesting box please consult the Plans for the Nesting Box
In 2011 LGSC refilled four of the nest boxes with a mixture of hay, wood chips and leaves and installed temperature monitors provided by the OMNR
to maintain our long-term seasonal temperature data set. The remaining boxes were refilled by the landowners. In the fall, 151 hatched rat snake eggs were found in two structures at Dr Ross's and Landon Bay. To the best of our knowledge, these are the only successful artificial nesting structures for gray rat snakes in North America.
.
If you are interested in building and installing a nesting box please consult the Plans for the Nesting Box
