In June of 2017 and 2018 LGSC organized and hosted a roundtable with local organizations interested in, and involved in, efforts to recover the Frontenac Arch population of the Gray Ratsnakes.
Representatives attended:
Murphy’s Point Provincial Park
Charleston Lake Provincial Park
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources – Kemptville and Kingston offices
Thousand Islands National Park
Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust
Lanark Stewardship Council
Frontenac Stewardship Foundation
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
In 2018 discussions focused on current recovery efforts and four areas where work is ongoing:
1. Active Research/Monitoring -
3. Nest Box Program -
In 2019 Thousand Islands National Park updated the group on their hibernaculum monitoring program and Murphy’s Point Provincial Park on their tagging and monitoring efforts.
LGSC presented the results of the GRS nest box project and Matt McPherson - MSc Candidate at Queen’s University made a presentation on some of his research “Testing Efficacy of Mitigation Fencing Designs at Preventing Road Access by Gray Ratsnakes”. Copies of the presentations are available on demand.
Work will continue over the coming years to further enhance efforts for the recovery of the Frontenac Arch population of the Gray Ratsnake.
Representatives attended:
Murphy’s Point Provincial Park
Charleston Lake Provincial Park
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources – Kemptville and Kingston offices
Thousand Islands National Park
Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust
Lanark Stewardship Council
Frontenac Stewardship Foundation
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
In 2018 discussions focused on current recovery efforts and four areas where work is ongoing:
1. Active Research/Monitoring -
- Research at QUBS – Ministry of Transportation Ontario SAR Overall benefit permit requirement - Matt Macpherson is conducting research (over the next two field seasons) on nest box use, success and effectiveness and mitigation fencing. Matt has 12 nest boxes deployed in a variety of ecosystem conditions (slope, canopy cover etc.) and will deploy temperature probes at three levels in each box. Matt will add temperature probes to the two LGSC nest boxes at QUBS to increase the sample size. He will also test a variety of fencing materials (vinyl, hardware cloth etc.) to determine their effectiveness in blocking GRS passage.
- Monitoring Hibernacula at Thousand Islands NP - Josh and staff are monitoring 5 hibernacula (1 annually) using a barrier/funnel method with remote camera that allows a census of snakes leaving the hibernaculum. There was much interest in the approach and technology.
- QUBS - doing outreach at their annual Open House and at Elbow Lake facility.
- Thousand Is National Park - planning outreach over the summer months - first opportunity at Rib Fest Canada Day.
- Murphy’s Point PP - ongoing outreach and education over the summer including with Lake Associations
3. Nest Box Program -
- LGSC continuing the nest box program with locations at Langdon Bay, Dr. Ross property, Upper Beverly Lake and QUBS (2)
- Lanark County Stewardship (Emily V.) expressed an interest in extending the program into Lanark County. There was some discussion about the fact that there were boxes built which needs to be verified. LGSC and LCS to discuss further.
- TIWLT - Ed Lowans expressed an interest in nest boxes for Lost Bay - to discuss further.
- In addition to the discussion around the MTO sponsored research in item one, there was a good discussion of additional permit (i.e. creation of basking areas) and of a new permit which has been issued for a project just north of Gananoque.
In 2019 Thousand Islands National Park updated the group on their hibernaculum monitoring program and Murphy’s Point Provincial Park on their tagging and monitoring efforts.
LGSC presented the results of the GRS nest box project and Matt McPherson - MSc Candidate at Queen’s University made a presentation on some of his research “Testing Efficacy of Mitigation Fencing Designs at Preventing Road Access by Gray Ratsnakes”. Copies of the presentations are available on demand.
Work will continue over the coming years to further enhance efforts for the recovery of the Frontenac Arch population of the Gray Ratsnake.