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.

Woodstock Man Charged in Traffic Incident
Christmas Tree Pickup in Oxford County
Weather Warning Issued for Oxford County
Holiday Closures in Woodstock
Multiple Charges Laid to Woodstock Man
Fog Advisory Issued for Oxford
Tip Tuesday with Oxford OPP - December 2025
Holiday Waste Collection Tips from Oxford County
UPDATE: CFIA Reports 20 Illnesses Connected to Recall
UPDATE: Charges Laid in Highway Hit-and-Run
Charges Laid after Altercation in Delhi
Oxford OPP Briefs - Dec. 22nd, 2025
PJHL Recap - Dec 19th to Dec 21st
Operation Sharing to Host Christmas Day
Two Woodstonians Face Drug Trafficking Charges
One Killed in Highway 401 Crash
Charges Laid After OPP Officers Injured
PJHL Preview - Dec. 19th to Dec. 21st
WPS Release Festive RIDE Campaign Results
Online Survey Launched for Mount Elgin Park