Snake Board Monitoring Team

Muskoka Conservancy has a Snake Coverboard Monitoring Transect of 24 boards set up at a Nature Reserve in Gravenhurst. If you love snakes and want to help us learn about what species are found on our protected Nature Reserves, this role is a great fit for you!


Role Responsibilities


  • Assist staff during any of the eight required monitoring surveys from May-July (you may participate in more than one event)
  • Assist with snake identification, ageing, sexing, etc
  • Depending on your comfort level, you may assist with snake handling and/or data collection.


Qualifications


  • Comfortable hiking in and around forests, wetlands, and rocky areas
  • Interest in snakes and their protection
  • Able to identify or learn to identify common snake species in Muskoka
  • Physically able to lift 2’ x 4’ plywood boards.


Why we do it


  • Five of Muskoka’s 11 snake species are listed as at risk provincially and/or federally
  • We want to learn more about the snakes that inhabit Muskoka Conservancy’s Protected Areas
  • Snakes can be hard to find, by setting up artificial snake coverboards we are able to better find individuals while also having a lesser impact on their natural habitat
  • The information we find is contributed to Ontario Nature’s Long-Term Snake Monitoring Program (check out how, here: Long-Term Monitoring Protocol (LTMP) for Ontario Snakes).


Monitoring surveys


  • Monitoring surveys start May 15th and occur every 5-9 days for eight weeks (until mid-July approx.)
  • Five volunteers are needed for each of the eight surveys
  • Surveys will take place within two hours after sunrise OR two hours before sunset
  • The timing of monitoring surveys depends on environmental factors such as temperature and weather; therefore the exact dates and times of the surveys are not available yet.


How will it work


  • All volunteers will be contacted via email ahead of EACH of the eight monitoring surveys with details for the DATE & TIME of the survey
  • The FIRST five volunteers to reply that they are available for the survey will be our helpers for the survey
  • A reminder will be sent out to the five volunteers the day before each survey
  • We will switch up the dates and times to get as many different volunteers out with us as possible!


*Training on how to identify Muskoka snake species and protocol guidelines will be provided, and is a requirement to participate as a Snake Monitoring Volunteer.

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