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Snakes of Ontario

  • In Canada, the blue racer is only found on Pelee Island (Photo by Ron Gould/OMNR)
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    Blue racer, Pelee Island, Ontario (Photo by Ron Gould/OMNR)
  • The northern brownsnake is primarily nocturnal and grows up to 50 cm (Photo by Mike VanValen)
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    Northern brownsnake (Photo by Mike VanValen)
  • Eastern foxsnakes can both swim and climb trees (Photo by Ryan M. Bolton)
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    Eastern foxsnake, Ontario (Photo by Ryan M. Bolton)
  • The red-bellied snake is primarily nocturnal, living along forest edges (Photo by Ryan M. Bolton)
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    Red-bellied snake, Ontario (Photo by Ryan M. Bolton)
  • Northern watersnakes are excellent swimmers; the Lake Erie watersnake is a subspecies of the northern (Photo by NCC)
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    Northern watersnake, Northern Bruce Peninsula, Ontario (Photo by NCC)
  • The common gartersnake is the most widely distributed reptile in Canada (Photo by NCC)
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    Common gartersnake, Manitoulin Island, Ontario (Photo by NCC)
  • In Canada, Butler's gartersnake is found only in Ontario; it is easily confused with the common gartersnake and northern ribbonsnake (Photo by Dan Mullen)
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    Butler's gartersnake (Photo by Dan Mullen)
  • The northern ribbonsnake can be differentiated from the gartersnakes by the white spot in front of its eye (Photo by Jon Fife)
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    Northern ribbonsnake (Photo by Jon Fife)
  • The red-sided gartersnake is considered a subspecies of the common gartersnake (Photo by Ben Lowe)
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    Red-sided gartersnake (Photo by Ben Lowe)
  • The harmless eastern hog-nosed snake will mimic cobras and rattlesnakes to ward off threats (Photo by Ben Lowe)
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    Eastern hog-nosed snake (Photo by Ben Lowe)
  • The eastern hog-nosed snake even goes so far as to play dead when threatened, putting on a whole show of writhing before rolling over (Photo by Natalie McNear)
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    An eastern hog-nosed snake playing dead (Photo by Natalie McNear)
  • Queen snakes are usually found near streams where their food of choice - crayfish - can be easily found (Photo by Joe Crowley/OMNR)
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    Queen snake, Ontario (Photo by Joe Crowley/OMNR)
  • The smooth greensnake is excellently camouflaged among shrubs and grasses (Photo by NCC)
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    Smooth greensnake, Manitoulin Island, Ontario (Photo by NCC)
  • The gray ratsnake is Canada's largest snake and spends a lot of time high up in trees (Photo by Ryan M. Bolton)
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    Gray ratsnake, Ontario (Photo by Ryan M. Bolton)
  • The ring-necked snake is primarily nocturnal and feeds largely on redback salamanders (Photo by Ben Lowe)
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    Ring-necked snake (Photo by Ben Lowe)
  • Distinguishable by its rattle, the eastern massasauga is Ontario's only venemous snake but is generally not aggressive (Photo by Ryan M. Bolton)
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    Eastern massassauga, Ontario (Photo by Ryan M. Bolton)
  • The milksnake is a constrictor though it likes to vibrate its tail like a rattlesnake when threatened (Photo by Ryan M. Bolton)
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    Milksnake, Ontario (Photo by Ryan M. Bolton)

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