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The Province's Only Venomous Snake Found Locally

Monday, 27 August 2012 07:34

Ontario's only venomous snake was spotted just outside Woodstock over the weekend. Two Massasauga rattlesnakes were found by members of the Woodstock Cycling Club. Ryan Ludington was at "The Pines" when he noticed it. "I came across it in the parking lot and realized it wasn't a regular Garter snake. So I stopped my bicycle and of course it saw us and took off into the woods. So we relocated it again and I got out my cell phone to take a few pictures to identify it later. My buddy was poking it with a stick just to see if we could get it to move, he coiled up then it actually rattled and struck at the stick," said Ludington. They were able to examine the other rattler that was found dead on the road and describe it as having a stocky, grey-brown body with dark, round blotches down its back and sides. Parks Canada says it has a diamond-shaped head, catlike pupils and a blunt tail with a hollow rattle at the end. It can grow up to a metre in length, but prefers flight to confrontation. It rarely strikes, doesn't always inject venom when it bites, and doesn't pursue people.

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