the ojibway Prairie Complex in Windsor contains the largest protected tallgrass prairie ecosystem in ontario and supports numerous species at risk. Despite its ecological significance, it is crossed by multiple high-traffic roads. Road mortality is a major threat to endangered species in Canada, particularly reptiles. the main goal of this study was to describe the nature and extent of vertebrate road mortality, with a focus on reptiles, on roads bisecting the ojibway Prairie Complex, and the Greater Park ecosystem, in Windsor and Lasalle, ontario. a systematic road mortality survey was conducted by bicycle along seven roads (12.5 km) in 2010, 2012, and 2013. also, opportunistic observations (n = 103) spanning over 30 years were assembled from a variety of sources. in total, 2083 vertebrates (49 species), including 446 reptiles (11 species), were recorded "dead on road" during systematic surveys. the highest diversity of reptiles was recorded on Matchette Road, whereas the highest rate of reptile mortality was recorded on Malden Road. Reptile species at risk were killed on all roads surveyed. Combining systematic and opportunistic data, we found seven reptile species at risk: Butler's Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri), eastern Foxsnake (Pantherophis vulpinus), eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus), Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), eastern Musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), northern Map turtle (Graptemys geographica), and snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina). Reptile road mortality "hotspots" occurred where each road is intersected by a naturalized utility right-of-way. our results can be used to focus mitigation efforts in space and time to reduce mortality rates and enhance connectivity in the ojibway Prairie Complex and Greater Park ecosystem.

Advancements in the field of reintroduction biology are needed, but understanding of how to effectively conduct translocations, particularly with snakes, is lacking. We conducted a systematic review of snake translocation studies to identify potential tactics for reducing postrelease effects. We included studies on intentional, human‐mediated, wild–wild, or captive–wild translocations to any location, regardless of motive or number of snakes translocated. Only studies that presented results for at least 1 of 4 outcomes (movement behavior, site fidelity, survival, or population establishment) were included. We systematically searched 4 databases for published studies and used 5 methods to search the gray literature. Our search and screening criteria yielded 121 data sources, representing 130 translocation cases. We quantified the association between 15 translocation tactics and short‐term translocation outcomes by calculating odds ratios and used forest plots to display results. Snake translocations involved 47 species (from mainly 2 families), and most were motivated by research, were monitored for at least 6 months, occurred in North America, and took place from the 1990s onward. The odds of a positive snake translocation outcome were highest with release of captive reared or juvenile snakes, release of social groups together, delayed release, provision of environmental enrichment or social housing before release, or minimization of distance translocated. The odds of a positive outcome were lowest when snakes were released early in their active season. Our results do not demonstrate causation, but outcomes of snake translocation were associated with 8 tactics (4 of which were strongly correlated). In addition to targeted comparative studies, we recommend practitioners consider the possible influence of these tactics when planning snake translocations.

Understanding population genetic structure is fundamental to conservation of endangered species. It is particularly important when working with species that are morphologically conserved because strong genetic divisions could represent cryptic species. Butler's Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri (Cope, 1889)) is an endangered species in Canada, having a fragmented distribution and being restricted to southwestern Ontario. Furthermore, it is difficult to distinguish morphologically from a closely related species, the Short-headed Gartersnake (Thamnophis brachystoma (Cope, 1892)). We use mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and seven microsatellite DNA loci to evaluate the genetic structure of Canadian T. butleri populations and to test for the presence of T. brachystoma in one of these populations. All individuals had the same mtDNA haplotype, and there was no evidence of multiple, syntopic genetic clusters, thereby rejecting the hypothesis that T. butleri and T. brachystoma co-exist in Canada. Two different model-based assignment tests using microsatellite DNA data suggest that there are four to five genetically distinct clusters of T. butleri (F ST from 0.12 to 0.20). We provide the first population genetic study of T. butleri in Canada and refute the presence of T. brachystoma. Our results may provide guidance on recovery strategies for this species and identify areas to target fine-scale genetic analyses.Résumé : La compréhension de la structure génétique des populations est un aspect fondamental de la conservation des espèces en voie de disparition et est particulièrement importante dans le cas d'espèces morphologiquement conservées étant donné que de fortes divisions génétiques peuvent représenter des espèces cryptiques. La couleuvre à petite tête (Thamnophis butleri (Cope, 1889)) est une espèce en voie de disparition au Canada, son répartition, limitée au sud-ouest de l'Ontario, étant fragmentée. Il est en outre difficile de la distinguer, sur une base morphologique, de Thamnophis brachystoma (Cope, 1892), une espèce étroitement apparentée. Nous utilisons l'ADN mitochondrial (ADNmt) et sept microsatellites d'ADN pour évaluer la structure génétique des populations canadiennes de T. butleri et vérifier la présence de T. brachystoma dans une de ces populations. Tous les individus présentent le même haplotype d'ADNmt, et rien n'indique la présence de multiples groupements génétiques syntopiques, ce qui invalide l'hypothèse de la coexistence de T. butleri et T. brachystoma au Canada. Deux tests d'affectation différents reposant sur des modèles et faisant appel aux données de microsatellites d'ADN laissent croire à la présence de quatre à cinq groupements génétiques distincts de T. butleri (F ST de 0,12 à 0,20). Nous présentons la première étude de la génétique des populations de la couleuvre à petite tête au Canada et démontrons l'absence de la couleuvre T. brachystoma. Nos résultats pourraient servir à orienter les stratégies visant le rétablissement de T. butleri et à cerner les zones à cibler des analyses génétiques fines....

We report a mass mortality of Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica [LeSueur, 1817]) on the north shore of Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada. Thirty-five dead adult females were recovered from a nesting area over a period of four weeks. Predation and boat strikes were both excluded as potential cause of death, but the actual cause could not be determined because of the poor condition of the carcasses. Other possible explanations for the mortality include poisoning, drowning, and infection with an unidentified pathogen. Mass mortality in long-lived species, such as turtles, can have long-term effects on population growth and is a cause for concern in a species at risk.

Essex County, Ontario, supports a diverse assemblage of Canadian herpetofauna. It is home to the only Canadian populations of three species/subspecies and contains two of Canada’s 11 Important Amphibian and Reptile Areas. A checklist and status assessment of the herpetofauna of Essex County was previously compiled in 1983. Changes to natural habitats and an increase in monitoring efforts (e.g., citizen science) over the past 35 years warrant an updated assessment of herpetofaunal status. The county was subdivided using a 10 x 10 km grid overlay, and recent observations (1997–2016) submitted to provincial databases were tabulated for each grid square. We compared current status’ of herpetofauna in Essex County to those of the 1983 study using a similar classification scheme of ‘extirpated from Essex’ (EE; no recent observations) and ‘rare in Essex’ (RE; distribution ≤5 squares). We found that 11 species declined in status. The majority of reptiles and amphibians (62%) that historically occurred in Essex County are now either EE (31%) or RE (31%) and almost half (45%) of the 29 extant species/subspecies are RE. A large proportion of salamanders and squamates are EE or RE (86% and 65%, respectively). Amount of natural area and sampling effort were important variables describing patterns of observed herpetofaunal species/subspecies richness, and observed richness was highest along the western and southern edges of the mainland (16–19 species). To prevent future extirpations, recovery efforts in Essex County should occur across multiple locations and target RE species.