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- Saskatchewan’s Snakes: Slithering to Risk?
A group of animals that is often maligned as being slimy, aggressive pests, the truth could not be further away! From Garters to Rattlesnakes, our slithery reptiles play a very important role in keeping our grasslands healthy. A role that is slowly becoming at-risk as these critters disappear from their historic ranges.
Saskatchewan is home to nine species of snake, mostly found across the southern portions of the province. Of these nine, four are now listed as species at-risk of extinction, another one added just this year. “Plains Hog-nosed, Bullsnakes, Rattlesnakes, and the Yellow-bellied Racer are all now listed,” Emily Putz, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator for Nature Saskatchewan states, “Their habitat is disappearing, and they are extremely susceptible to roadkill events, whether accidental or otherwise.” Referring to the persecution snakes deal with both at their wintering sites where they gather together and on the roadways that they approach to bask on.
“I think people don’t know a lot about our snakes, and are creeped out or scared by them, thinking they are slimy and aggressive,” Putz continues, “that could not be further from the truth though.” Snakes scales are made of dry and cool keratin, the same material as our hair and fingernails, that are overlaid in one direction to help them move smoothly across the ground and into cover. A cover they will readily take when approached. “All Saskatchewan snakes are for the most part non-aggressive and shy, more likely to flee at the first sign of human movement nearby.” Even the rattlesnake, our only venomous snake, uses their venom sparingly as a last resort, usually when startled or unable to escape. They will rattle primarily to scare you off first.
Snakes are excellent pest control, with the smaller species, such as the red- bellied, smooth green, and our three gartersnake species primarily feeding on insects, worms, and small amphibians and rodents. Hog-nosed and Yellow-bellied Racers are in between, feeding on mice and voles; while our largest snakes, the Western Rattlesnake and Bullsnake, eat mainly rodents including pocket gophers and ground squirrels. In addition to controlling rodent populations, snakes are prey themselves for many tertiary predators and also play a role in dispersing nutrients and seeds in their movements. “If we lose these snakes, not only are we losing unique and interesting species, but we are also losing all the good these critters do for the environment, both pasture and farmland included.” Putz concludes.
Want to help their recovery? Helping can be as simple as moving over when you see one on the road, a basking snake is not quick enough to move out of your way; or by teaching the younger generations that snakes should be valued and not feared, even if you are scared of them yourself. You can also get involved in Nature Saskatchewan’s Stewards of Saskatchewan program, by reporting sightings of the four at-risk species to our toll-free HOOTline, 1-800-667-HOOT (4668) or email Emily Putz at outreach@naturesask.ca. If you are a landholder with these species on your land, become a steward and participate in our annual census! Every sighting helps with tracking the population and range of these cryptic reptiles. All caller and program participant information is kept confidential.
top: Bullsnake; Noah Johnson, bottom left: Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer; Ashley Vass, bottom right: Smooth Green Snake; Tara Sample
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- The Search for Dwarf Woolly Heads
Working in the field searching for rare plant species means many things, but mostly, it means getting the opportunity to see plants that many people do not get the chance too. Rare plants are rare for a reason! They can be rare because they are habitat specialists, they have been greatly impacted by human activities, and/or they have limited habitat available. Having the ability to access the areas where they are growing is such a pleasure, especially when you and your field partner have been looking all day for a very tiny plant called Dwarf Woolly Heads (Psilocarphus brevissimus). On this one particular day, while my field partner, Sophia, and I were searching we thought we were going to see everything amazing about this landscape except Dwarf Woolly Heads. First, as we were approaching a fence to access the quarter section, I stopped Sophia mid-sentence and pointed to a small creature peeking out of a hole in the ground. We were not sure what it was at first, but it gave us the chance to slowly and quietly approach it. As we got only a few feet away from the fence, the little guy snuck back into the hole. Thinking that was the end of our interaction with the animal, we hopped the fence. As soon as we got over, he popped out again! We discovered it was a weasel. We watched him watching us as he darted in and out of the hole for the next few minutes. We are thinking he is just as curious about us as we were of him. Or maybe he just needed to get past us, as he later scurried away right in front of Sophia’s feet.
We continued on our way away from the gate as we had a few miles to walk to reach our furthest polygon—an area with suitable habitat—to search for Dwarf Woolly Heads. We were lucky today as well, as the weather was on our side—nice, cool, and slightly breezy! We reached our first and farthest polygon to search for Dwarf Woolly Heads, but unfortunately, we found nothing. We slowly made our way through the polygons back towards the fence where we came from with no luck finding the plant we were searching for. We sat down to take a quick break and in the distance, we saw a pair of Pronghorns. In a previous visit with a landholder, it was mentioned that Pronghorns are very curious animals and will approach you if you raise and lower a hat. So, we quickly get to doing just that, but instead of them being fascinated by us, they seemed more annoyed by us. The pair of Pronghorns snorted in our direction before running off in the distance. I guess they were not very happy to come over the hill and see us sitting there.
It was about time to head back to the vehicle, but we thought we should search at least one or two more polygons on our way out. We arrived at our largest polygon and started searching it, thinking we will not be finding anything since the theme of the day had been animal sightings, not Dwarf Woolly Heads sightings; so, I was quite shocked when Sophia and I realized that the little white plants we were walking on were Dwarf Woolly Heads! They were so small and there were so many of them. We were so excited to have come across our target species for that trip.
You never really know what to expect when you are working in the field. Lots of times you are sent out to very remote places where wildlife and the environment can flourish without much immediate human disturbance. Having the opportunity to be right in the midst of it and join that environment is really remarkable.
top: Dwarf Woolly Heads, Tory Frankl, bottom left: Weasel, Sophia Uytterhagen, bottom right: Pronghorn, Tory Frankl
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- 2024 Fall Meet 75th Anniversary Celebration
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- Voices from the Field
Hi there! I’m Nathaniel, one of the summer staff on this year’s Bird Species at Risk crew. Some of you may have already met myself and my coworker Kim! It’s been a packed summer travelling across Saskatchewan, connecting with landholders and our Stewards of Saskatchewan participants around the province! We started a busy stretch of travel in late June at Nature Saskatchewan’s Spring Meet in Saskatoon, which was a fantastic opportunity to connect with our members and celebrate our 75th anniversary. It was a weekend full of tours and presentations; I joined a group that went hiking for a morning in Pike Lake Provincial Park and then spent the afternoon getting a tour of the Northeast Swale from Renny Grilz and the Saskatoon Nature Society. We spent the day identifying birds and plants, enjoying the sunshine, and learning about the challenges the Meewasin Valley Authority is facing. They’re trying to conserve the invaluable biodiversity found at the Northeast and Small Swales while having to accommodate the construction of new neighbourhoods and a future freeway in the rapidly-growing city of Saskatoon. The weekend concluded with a delicious banquet meal, and presentations from one of our long-time members about the evolution of our journal, the Blue Jay. Following that was a presentation from Renny Grilz, who talked about the work that the Meewasin Valley Authority does, and their work to help create a new national urban park within Saskatoon.
Since then, Kim and I have spent a lot of time in southwest Saskatchewan, visiting with participants in our Stewards of Saskatchewan programming to collect their species-at-risk sighting information and answer any questions that they have about the wildlife on their land. We’ve also been signing up new people into our programs as often as possible, which for me has been an extremely rewarding experience. In mid-July, we spent 2 days conducting grid road searches for Loggerhead Shrikes, as part of a census effort led by the Canadian Wildlife Service. You can read all about that on Kim’s blog post from a few weeks ago!
With all the time spent driving in the southwest, I’ve been enjoying seeing a variety of species along the side of the road, both at-risk and not! Whether it’s Ferruginous Hawks, badgers, White-tailed deer, or Loggerhead Shrikes, it’s a treat to get to see so much wildlife in this unique part of the province. A personal highlight for me was when we saw a pronghorn chasing - yes, chasing! - a coyote away from her young. It was like something you would only see in wildlife documentaries, a moment that should have had David Attenborough’s legendary narration!
We also completed range health assessments on several quarter sections. The goal with those to identify, broadly, what types of vegetation that Sprague’s Pipits, a threatened grassland songbird, are using on the pastures where we find them. These specific health assessments were done in needle-and-thread dominated prairie, which, well – let’s just say “needle and thread” is an accurate name for the seeds of this grass! Our socks and shoes were covered with the sharp seeds, which often made for a few pain-filled steps before we could remove the dozens of seeds that imbedded in a very short time.
As the summer, and my contract at Nature Saskatchewan, comes to a close, I am grateful to the many, many stewards who have welcomed us into their homes and yards throughout the past couple of months. I have found the visits to be extremely rewarding, and it’s a pleasure to be able to learn about the land that they farm, from folks who care about wildlife conservation as much as I do. Protecting species-at-risk, and the habitat that they call home, is a team effort, and it’s been a privilege to travel across the province to work with our stewards.
photo: N. Hak
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- Supporting our Monarchs: When does Helping Hinder?
An enigmatic species with bold orange and black eye-catching colour, it’s no wonder so many people are enamored with the Monarch butterfly. With the species recently being up listed from Special Concern to Endangered, this iconic migratory butterfly could use our help in supporting its recovery more than ever. But when does our help become a hindrance? Many suggestions on how to help the Monarch that are gaining popularity can actually hurt our wild population. Here is the do’s and don’ts if you are looking to help.
Captive rearing is popular with butterfly enthusiasts, not only because you get a close up view of the butterflies’ life cycle, but also because it is something tangible when it comes time to release the adults and you watch them fly away. “While these projects can foster a love for the species, we encourage people to choose a different way to help,” Emily Putz, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator with Nature Saskatchewan states, “Rearing butterflies together though often comes with significant risk to both the individual butterflies, and your local population.” The close proximity can quickly spread disease, such as the bacterial infection known as the black death or the parasitic Ophryocycstis elektroscirrha (OE) disease. Butterflies with OE can appear fine at release and then spread this disease to wild butterflies or its own offspring when in the wild; causing wing deformities and leading to death.
As well, captive reared butterfly sources can be a problem. Butterflies that are ordered are often not from the local population, introducing genetics that are unfavourable to survive and potentially supporting poaching from wild populations for profit. When these individuals are released in areas north of the species’ range, or at a timing that doesn’t align with their natural hatch, the chance of them making a successful migration to their wintering grounds in Mexico decreases. Not all Monarch populations migrate, which can further affect genetics if they are from populations that do not. Eggs and larva taken from roadside ditches or other natural areas may also seem like an action that helps vulnerable individuals make it to adulthood, but problems can persist in the rearing conditions. “It is best to let nature be nature in a natural setting to give our Monarchs the strongest chance,” Putz concludes.
To support Monarchs, one of the best things to do is to get involved in responsible community science projects! Planting your own Milkweed patch to support habitat is a great way to rear butterflies naturally and support the population. Observing them in this setting and reporting your findings can further support recovery actions as more information is gained on their life cycle on the prairies. Projects like these are part of a bigger effort, joining together data and observations from your whole community towards a larger goal.
When looking to the species of Milkweed that are best, always go for native Milkweed species; of which Saskatchewan has five, several of which can be found readily available at greenhouses and nurseries. Broad leaved species, such as Showy, Common, or Dwarf Milkweed, are the top choices for our Monarchs, as they provide amply real estate for eggs and caterpillar food. Stay away from exotic Milkweed species, especially Tropical Milkweed. While attractive and flashy in its bright yellow, red, and orange hues, it hurts our Monarchs. A warm climate species, it blooms much longer than our native varieties, tricking Monarchs into delaying their life cycle until it’s too late to migrate. It can also spread OE and other diseases into a population with no defense.
Along with planting Milkweed, it is always encouraged to plant nectaring habitat species as well! The best of which are our native flowering species. Not only will a native garden provide food for Monarch adults from Spring right through to Fall, but it also supports a number of other native pollinators; which in turn will help your garden grow more vibrant year after year!
Lastly, if you are a landholder within the Monarch’s range, the number one way to help is by supporting natural habitat on your property! Allowing Milkweed and nectaring wildflower species on margin lands of crop and road ditches, delaying mowing of these areas until after the first generation of Monarchs emerge, and supporting Milkweed patches within pasture and rangeland can go a long way to helping this species recover.
Looking for more ways to help? Report all Monarch sightings to our Stewards of Saskatchewan community science program! If you are a landholder with a native milkweed patch that Monarchs frequent, get involved in our Milkweed Monitoring as well! Every participant helps fill the gaps on our prairie population and how they use our Native milkweed habitat. Questions on the best way to help Monarchs, or to report your sightings, please contact Nature Saskatchewan’s toll-free HOOTline, 1-800-667-HOOT (4668) or email Emily Putz at outreach@naturesask.ca. Every sighting helps with tracking the population and range of this iconic butterfly. All caller and program participant information is kept confidential.
photo: Kim Mann
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- 2024 Fall Meet and 75th Anniversary Celebration
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- Loggerhead Shrike Surveys a Success!
After the couple of crazy weeks we had during the Piping Plover surveys, I thought that with the onset of summer, the weather would be more cooperative but I was wrong. Our Loggerhead Shrike surveys took place mainly in the car as we drove along pre-determined routes and kept an eye out for shrikes. They like to nest in shrubs and shelterbelts and are attracted to roads due to the insect activity. Mid-July is the best time to spot the threatened bird because the fledglings are growing up and learning to hunt for themselves. The only walking we had to do for the survey was around the occasional cemetery looking in the shelterbelts for active nests. Due to a minor foot injury, I stood watch over the shelterbelts near the car while my field partner Nathaniel walked the perimeter.
We started the adventure in Maple Creek on Wednesday at 8:00 AM. After getting our coffee to get us going, we began the survey route that would meander down to Consul. What we expected to only take a couple of hours ended up taking two days! The weather was beautiful, just a little too hot for Loggerhead Shrikes to be active. Once it hit 30 degrees, we had to pause the survey due to the high heat which reduces the detectability of shrikes. After a quick regroup to make a new plan, we decided to visit our participants in the area and try again the next morning.
The next day, we were ready and on the road by 6:00 AM to try and finish the survey within the time we had. It was already Thursday and the forecast was above 30 degrees for the rest of the week. The early morning surveying was almost peaceful after I had my morning coffee to keep me awake, or at least that’s what I thought until we got driving and Nathaniel felt something small fly into the car through an open window. We thought it was nothing until a bumblebee flew right into Nathaniel’s face! We quickly found an approach to pull over and try to get the bee out except he did not want to leave and found that the space between the windshield and the dash was a nice place to hang out. With lots of guidance, I got what I believed was our bee out of the car. I looked over at Nathaniel and said “That has to be the bee that was flying around, what are the chances there is another bee right outside of our car right now?” With a sigh of relief, we got back in the car and began driving again. When there wasn’t any suitable habitat for Loggerhead Shrikes, we were able to speed up a bit. After about 5 minutes, we heard buzzing again and assumed the noise was coming from the open window. That's when the bee decided to make another appearance, flying at Nathaniel’s face again! We got to another approach and attempted to get it out but we gave up after a couple of minutes to continue our survey, this time accepting we had a new insect companion.
Near the end of our survey, I got what I thought was our bee out and exclaimed, “That has to be our bee! What are the chances that there is a different bee while we have one in our car?”. I found myself wrong again. Continuing our drive, the bee made a final appearance before flying out the window, and after over an hour, we said goodbye to our new friend. The rest of the survey route was not as eventful but with 10 Loggerhead Shrike sightings, including young fledglings, I think it was quite successful.
photo: N. Hak
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- Young Burrowing Owls Spread Their Wings
The arrival of summer signals the beginning of family vacations and road trips across the prairies. This also includes young Burrowing Owls, who are now starting to leave the nest and forage for themselves after weeks of being provided for by their parents. The young owls are practicing their hunting and flying skills, and venturing out on their own to other burrows nearby. “At dusk, the road surface tends to be warmer than surrounding grasslands, attracting many small insects and rodents,” explains Grace Pidborchynski, coordinator of Operation Burrowing Owl at Nature Saskatchewan, “As a result, young owls are also attracted to the road and ditch when they begin searching for prey.” This can lead to vehicle collisions as the owls will fly low to the ground in search of food. Motorists are asked to be alert and on the lookout for owls as they drive on highways and the many grid roads that cross our province.
The Burrowing Owl population across the prairies has been steadily declining since the mid-80s, making the survival of each juvenile owl critical for the survival and growth of the species. Motorists can help reduce the risk of owl-vehicle collisions by slowing down near known or potential nest sites and being on the lookout for low-flying birds. Slowing down can also increase your chances of spotting this endangered owl!
Burrowing Owls are about 9 inches tall, with mottled brown and white feathers, bushy white ‘eyebrows’, and long featherless legs. They are often found nesting in native prairie that has been well grazed, as the short grass helps them to spot predators. Burrowing Owls nest in abandoned burrows excavated by badgers, ground squirrels, or other burrowing mammals. They are most often seen standing on their burrow, sitting on nearby fence posts, or foraging in ditches.
Nature Saskatchewan has been involved with the conservation of the Burrowing Owl since 1987, relying on the help of landholders and the public. Operation Burrowing Owl partners with stewards across southern and central Saskatchewan and uses voluntary agreements to conserve the rapidly disappearing habitat required by the owls, as well as to monitor the Saskatchewan population. The program works alongside steward practices, and the land continues to be used in a way that benefits the steward. If you see a Burrowing Owl, please give us a call on our toll-free Hoot Line, at 1-800-667-HOOT (4668) or email obo@naturesask.ca. “You will be helping to monitor the population and aid with conservation efforts,” Pidborchynski mentions. All caller and program participant information is never shared without permission.
photo credit: Boyd Coburn
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- Loggerhead Shrikes: The Songbird that Thinks it’s a Hawk
Hearing a ruckus in your yard? The loud shrieking coming from the bush or shelterbelt may be a nest full of shikes waiting for their fresh meal! These migratory songbirds are a threatened species, and Saskatchewan is an important part of their breeding range. They return to the Canadian prairies each spring from their wintering grounds in southern Texas and Mexico; and in July, their young are starting to leave the nest!
There can be up to seven young in the nest waiting with hungry mouths to be fed by their overworked parents. Look for nests about chest high in shrubs around your yard, preferably near something prickly. “July is a busy time for the Loggerhead Shrike, explains Emily Putz, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator of Shrubs for Shrikes with Nature Saskatchewan. “the adults are out hunting constantly to try to provide enough food for their nestlings, and soon those young will be fledging and venturing out of the nest to learn to hunt for themselves.”
Shrikes are predatory songbirds; they are opportunistic hunters that will catch anything they can carry. They share many of the same hunting practices as larger birds of prey, such as a hawk, but they have dainty songbird feet that lack the powerful talons of other predatory birds, meaning they can’t hold down the prey to tear pieces off. To get around this they will hang their prey on thorns or barbed wire, and use their sharp beak to rip off the edible pieces. Shrikes make excellent pest control since their main food sources are insects such as grasshoppers, mice, voles, and even snakes.
“This is a great time to hunt, but can also be a dangerous time for the young,” Putz continues,” as road mortality is one of their biggest threats.” Watch for shrikes by the roadside, especially near shelterbelts, as they are attracted to insects on the road. The fledglings will not be able to move out of the way of a moving vehicle, so slow down if it looks like there’s a bird on the road.
Nature Saskatchewan runs a voluntary stewardship program, Shrubs for Shrikes, that works with rural landholders to conserve and monitor this species at risk. They are asking anyone who sees a Loggerhead Shrike, or impaled prey, to call their toll free line at 1-800-667-4668 or email outreach@naturesask.ca. Personal information is never shared without permission and every sighting helps this species’ recovery!
photo credit: M. Yaskowich