Eastern Hog-nosed Snake Government Response Statement

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake is a thick-bodied snake with a distinctive upturned scale on its snout. The species typically measures 50 to 85 cm in length, with highly variable colour (gray, brown, olive or black) and pattern or blotching.

Protecting and recovering Species at Risk in Ontario

Species at risk recovery is a key part of protecting Ontario’s biodiversity. Biodiversity – the variety of living organisms on Earth – provides us with clean air and water, food, fibre, medicine and other resources that we need to survive.

The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) is the Government of Ontario’s legislative commitment to protecting and recovering species at risk and their habitats. As soon as a species is listed as extirpated, endangered or threatened under the ESA, it is automatically protected from harm or harassment. Also, immediately upon listing, the habitats of endangered and threatened species are protected from damage or destruction.

Under the ESA, the Ministry of Natural Resources (the Ministry) must ensure that a recovery strategy is prepared for each species that is listed as endangered or threatened. A recovery strategy provides science-based advice to government on what is required to achieve recovery of a species.

Government response statements

Within nine months after a recovery strategy is prepared, the ESA requires the Ministry to publish a statement summarizing the government’s intended actions and priorities in response to the recovery strategy. The recovery strategy for Eastern Hog-nosed Snake was published on December 7, 2011.

The response statement is the government’s policy response to the scientific advice provided in the recovery strategy. In addition to the strategy, the response statement is based on input from stakeholders, other jurisdictions, Aboriginal communities and members of the public. It reflects the best available traditional, local and scientific knowledge at this time and may be adapted if new information becomes available. In implementing the actions in the response statement, the ESA allows the Ministry to determine what is feasible, taking into account social and economic factors.

Moving forward to protect and recover Eastern Hog-Nosed Snake

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake is listed as a threatened species under the ESA. The ESA prohibits harm or harassment of the species without authorization. Such authorization would require that conditions established by the Ministry be met. The Eastern Hog-nosed Snake’s habitat will be protected from damage or destruction under the Act by June 30, 2013.

The Eastern Hog-nosed Snake is widespread in eastern North America. However, the species is considered rare in Canada where it is limited to two areas: the Carolinian region of southwestern Ontario, and central Ontario south of the French River and Lake Nipissing. The species' presence in Ontario has declined, having been extirpated from the regions of Halton, Peel, York, Pelee Island, and Point Pelee National Park. Threats to the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake include habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, roads, persecution, collection, and contaminants.

The government’s goal is to maintain current population levels of Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, and where possible, increase connectivity of existing populations and ensure the natural expansion of their range.

Protecting and recovering species at risk is a shared responsibility. No single agency or organization has the knowledge, authority or financial resources to protect and recover all of Ontario’s species at risk. Successful recovery requires inter-governmental co-operation and the involvement of many individuals, organizations and communities.

In developing the government response statement, the Ministry considered what actions are feasible for the government to lead directly and what actions are feasible for the government to support its conservation partners to undertake.

Government-led actions

To help protect and recover the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, the government will directly undertake the following actions:

• Develop a survey protocol to be used by proponents and partners to detect the presence or absence of Eastern Hog-nosed Snake.
• Educate other agencies and authorities involved in planning and environmental assessment processes on the protection requirements under the ESA.
• Encourage the submission of Eastern Hog-nosed Snake data to the Ministry’s central repository at the Natural Heritage Information Centre or the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas.
• Undertake communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario.
• Protect the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake through the Apply and implement habitat protection provisions of the Act by June 30, 2013.
• Support conservation, agency, municipal and industry partners and Aboriginal communities to undertake activities to protect and recover the Eastern Hog-nosed Support will be provided where appropriate through funding, agreements, permits (including conditions) and advisory services.
• Establish and communicate annual priority actions for government support in order to encourage collaboration and reduce duplication of efforts.

Government-supported actions

The government endorses the following actions as being necessary for the protection and recovery of the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake. Actions identified as "high" will be given priority consideration for funding or for authorizations under the ESA. The government will focus its support on these high-priority actions over the next five years.

Focus area:

Management

Objective:

Reduce identified threats and increase habitat connectivity for Eastern

Hog-nosed Snake.

Actions:

1. (High) Assess specific threats to Eastern Hog-nosed Snake habitat and mitigate those threats where appropriate (e.g., co-operate with existing landscape restoration activities to strategically implement habitat restoration measures for the species to maintain connectivity of habitat types).
2. (High) Identify sites where traffic mortality occurs and, where feasible, implement appropriate mitigation measures which may include:
   • a public outreach campaign aimed at driver education,
   • construction of ecopassages and installation of snake fencing along relevant roadways, and
   • temporary road closures where necessary.
3. As opportunities arise, support the securement of habitat that contains Eastern Hog-nosed Snake populations through existing land securement and stewardship programs.

Focus area:

Inventory and Monitoring

Objective:

Increase knowledge of presence, distribution and abundance of Eastern Hog-nosed Snake in Ontario.

Actions:

4. (High) Develop and implement a standardized population monitoring, inventory and reporting program which may:
   • monitor populations to identify and track changes in population abundance over time,
   • identify locations of hibernacula and other habitat features, and
   • complete surveys in conjunction with other species at risk, where appropriate, to determine the presence and distribution of Eastern Hog-nosed Snake.

Focus area:

Research

Objective:

Improve knowledge of Eastern Hog-nosed Snake habitat, population viability and prey.

Actions:

5. Undertake research at representative sites across the species' range to determine habitat use of adults and juveniles, home range sizes and population abundance.
6. Use basic life history data to estimate the effect of differing population sizes on the likelihood of the population surviving.
7. Determine Eastern Hog-nosed Snake dependence on toad populations for survival and investigate the food preferences of juveniles.

Focus area:

Awareness

Objective:

Raise awareness and promote stewardship of Eastern Hog-nosed Snake in Ontario.

Actions:

8. Develop and provide information to enforcement officers, landowners, those working on the land, Aboriginal communities, municipal planners and the pet trade to increase awareness, reduce persecution, and promote the protection and recovery of Eastern Hog-nosed Where appropriate, coordinate efforts with other snake at-risk awareness initiatives.

Implementing actions

Financial support for the implementation of actions may be available through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program or Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program. Conservation partners are encouraged to discuss project proposals related to the actions in this response statement with the Ministry. The Ministry can also advise if any authorizations under the ESA or other legislation may be required to undertake the project.

Implementation of the actions may be subject to changing priorities across the multitude of species at risk, available resources and the capacity of partners to undertake recovery activities. Where appropriate, the implementation of actions for multiple species will be co-ordinated across government response statements.

Reviewing progress

The ESA requires the Ministry to conduct a review of progress towards protecting and recovering a species not later than five years from the publication of this response statement. The review will help identify if adjustments are needed to achieve the protection and recovery of the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake.

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank all those who participated in the development of the "Recovery Strategy for the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake in Ontario" for their dedication to protecting and recovering species at risk.