Breeding Eastern Gartersnakes
Like 1 Dislike 0 Published on 10 May 2017
Spring breeding season is underway! Here we have a ball of breeding Eastern Gartersnakes. One of two common snakes found within the City of Toronto. On warm spring days in April, snakes emerge from their underground dens to mate. The male snakes are attracted to the pheromones produced by a female snake. The female will give birth to between 10 and 30 live young several weeks later.
One impact facing Eastern gartersnakes and other snake species is the network of trails and roads that criss-cross their habitat. A balanced and healthy ecosystem requires that all the links of the food chain are strong and in place. Snakes form a critical link in this food chain for many species. Without them the numbers of rats and other small rodents would increase to unnatural levels that we as humans would find undesirable.
TRCA monitors snakes and other wildlife and plant species through biological inventories, and at long-term fixed plots throughout Toronto and region. Learn more: https://trca.ca/conservation/environmental-monitoring/
Monitoring Matters!