Features: The Lake Erie Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon insularum) is a pale gray, brownish or lightly patterned water snake whose entire global distribution is limited to islands in the western end of Lake Erie. It is a subspecies of the darker and more widespread Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon). The pale coloration of the Lake Erie Water Snake is considered to be an adaptation to local habitat features of the Lake Erie islands, notably the pale gray limestone which is present in many undisturbed shoreline areas. As the name implies, water snakes are usually found in or near water where they feed on fish and amphibians.

Status: Endangered Provincially and Nationally

Range: The Lake Erie Water Snake occurs in shoreline areas of islands on the Canadian and United States sides of western Lake Erie. Range Maps

Threats: The principal threats to the snake are shoreline development and alteration, and human persecution. The flooding of den sites, which occurs when lake levels are high, may pose an additional threat.

Protection: The Lake Erie Water Snake is protected under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, and is listed under Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007, which protects the species and its habitat. The Natural Heritage component of the Provincial Policy Statement under Ontario's Planning Act provides for the protection of significant portions of the habitat of species listed in regulation under the E.S.A.. In addition, Ontario's Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program (CLTIP) will provide 100% tax relief to private landowners for the portion of their property (minimum size 0.5 acres) determined to be habitat of species in regulation under the E.S.A. This program recognizes, encourages and supports private land stewardship. Provincial nature reserves and privately owned nature reserves within the Lake Erie Water Snake's Ontario range provide refuges where these reptiles are subjected to minimal disturbance.

Text Sources: Campbell and King 1991; Johnson 1989; Cook 1984

Last Modified Date: October 2008