Executive summary

Prepared by Talena Kraus. Adoption of the Recovery Strategy for the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Geterodon platirhinos) in Canada (Seburn 2009)

The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) requires the Minister of Natural Resources to ensure recovery strategies are prepared for all species listed as endangered or threatened on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List. Under the ESA, a recovery strategy may incorporate all or part of an existing plan that relates to that species.

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake is listed as threatened on the SARO List. The species is also listed as threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Parks Canada Agency prepared the Recovery Strategy for the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake in Canada in March 2009 to meet their requirements under the SARA. This recovery strategy is hereby adopted under the ESA. With the additions indicated below, the enclosed strategy meets all of the content requirements outlined in the ESA.

The recovery goal is to ensure population persistence and retain and expand, where possible, the current range of occupancy and connectivity of extant populations. It is recommended that the area within 100 metres of hibernation and oviposition sites be prescribed as habitat in a habitat regulation. In addition, areas of contiguous natural habitat including open areas (meadow, sand, beach and beach dunes, open forest, brushland, rock barrens), wetlands, forest and forest edge within five kilometres of sightings should be prescribed as habitat. If sightings occur such that the outer edges of the two, five-kilometre circles around them are within 10 kilometres of each other, and connected suitable habitat exists between the sightings, it is recommended that the suitable habitat in the area between such sightings be prescribed in a habitat regulation. If the area within the five kilometre radius as described above includes a road, the boundary for that area should be considered as the road where it crosses the area, except where the road may not act as a complete barrier. Areas of high human use should be excluded from the regulation, unless within 100 metres of hibernation or oviposition sites.

Executive summary

Prepared by David Seburn

The Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) was designated Threatened in Canada in 2001 by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). It is widespread across much of eastern North America, but in Canada, it is limited to two areas of Ontario: the Carolinian Life Zone of southwestern Ontario, and central Ontario south of the French River and Lake Nipissing. Although the current distribution of the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake in Ontario is not completely known, it is clear that this species has declined in range. The Eastern Hog-nosed Snake has been extirpated from the Regional Municipalities of Halton, Peel, and York and possibly from Bruce, and Prince Edward counties. It has also been extirpated from Point Pelee National Park and Pelee Island. Threats faced by the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake include: habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, roads, persecution, collecting and contaminants.

The goal of this recovery strategy is the long-term persistence of key Eastern Hog-nosed Snake populations throughout the range of the species in Canada. The objectives of recovery activities during the next few years will focus on the following five areas:

  1. Inventory and Monitoring to increase our knowledge of the current range and distribution of Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes,
  2. Research focusing on habitat use and demographics,
  3. Conservation and Management, including habitat protection and acquisition,
  4. Defining and protecting critical habitat, and
  5. Communication and Stewardship through the development of a communication strategy to address persecution and collection, and stewardship guidelines to promote best management practices and land- use guidelines.

Specific steps within each of these areas are outlined.

Critical habitat has not yet been defined for the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake. However, a research project investigating ways of identifying critical habitat based on pre-existing field data has already begun. This on-going work will be refined until critical habitat is formally identified for each of the key populations. A Schedule of Studies has also been identified to aid in the identification of critical habitat.

One or more action plans or similar planning documents will be developed to elaborate on the approaches recommended in the strategy. Recommendations for Eastern Hog-nosed Snake also may be incorporated into multi-species or ecosystem-based action plans where this is expected to be the most effective and efficient approach for implementation (e.g. habitat protection and landscape restoration). An action plan or similar planning document for Eastern Hog-nosed Snake recovery will be completed by December 2013.