Wednesday, May 19, 2021
Southpoint Sun - 5
Expert says snakes are underappreciated By Mark Ribble REGIONAL — Matt Ellerbeck, one of Ontario’s leading snake experts, says that the reptiles are underappreciated and that we should learn more about them. “People don’t realize that snakes can be beneficial,” he says. “Those little garter snakes in your garden will help with pest control.” Ellerbeck says that the small garter snakes and the De Kay’s Brownsnake both eat a lot of insects and snails. And the larger snakes, like the Eastern Fox
Snake, eat a lot of rodents. “We know that rodents carry a lot of disease and also carry a lot of ticks,” he said. “Snakes that eat rodents will take care of that problem.” Ellerbeck says that a recent study of the Timber Rattle Snake showed that they will devour over 4,000 ticks in a season. Speaking of rattlesnakes, the only rattlesnake in Ontario is the Massassauga Rattle Snake, which is extinct in these parts — except for Ojibway Nature Preserve in LaSalle. The rattle snakes at
The De Kay’s Brown Snake is often found in gardens and small wooded areas. It’s usually a small snake, similar to a Garter Snake.
Ojibway are few and far Snake, the Milk Snake between and are seldom and Hog Snake, but they seen, but they are the only have disappeared down venomous snake in the there,” said Ellerbeck. Raised near Brockville, province. The Leamington-Point Ontario, Ellerbeck bePelee area is home to Gar- came interested in snakes ter Snakes, Wa“They get a bad as a child and often felt that ter Snakes, Eastrap because of the presentaern Fox Snakes how they are tion of snakes and others. portrayed.” Pelee Island on television is home to the — Matt Ellerbeck and in the meLake Erie Water dia was a poor Snake and the Blue Racer, representation. both of which are consid“They get a bad rap ered species at risk by the because of how they are federal government. portrayed,” he said. “But “There was a time when in reality, snakes don’t your area was home to want to be around peothe Massassauga Rattle ple.”
Snake expert, Matt Ellerbeck with a Yellow Rat Snake.
He says that almost all snake bites occur when people deliberately try to pick them up or capture them. “They are not out to get us,” he said. Ellerbeck turned his interest in the reptiles into a career, and — prior to COVID — spent countless hours going to schools, camps and conservation areas to educate people about snakes. Snake populations decrease mainly because of road incidents and from people who want to kill them. He reminds us to avoid harming them
where possible. “If you see one on the road and can safely stop, please let the snake live,” he said. “You’ll be helping their existence greatly.” He feels that once people can look at snakes from a different perspective, they will be able to appreciate the benefits of having them around. If you come across a snake in your yard, or would like to know more, you can visit his website at www.snakeadvocacy. com or his Facebook Page which is simply Matt Ellerbeck, the Snake Man.
The Eastern Fox Snake is this area’s largest snake. Photos courtesy of Matt Ellerbeck
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