Murphys Point is home to the “threatened” Gray Ratsnake (also known as the Black Ratsnake) and has made great efforts to conserve its population. The Friends are on board with efforts to protect this harmless constrictor.
Education: The Friends recently launched a new Gray Ratsnake blog – a site devoted to answering questions and promoting local conservation efforts for this species at risk in Ontario. Learn about the snake and ask questions!
Cool Social Media Stuff: In addition to the new blog, the Friends have also launched a neat social media education project. Back in the 1990s, individual Gray Ratsnakes were tracked through radio telemetry to learn more about their habits and ranges and to help protect the species and its habitat. Now there is new and valuable use for the research – education. We’re also using Facebook as a way to describe the life of these snakes. Using the real data collected in the 1990s, we will be posting updates on Facebook to show how an individual snake moved throughout each season. Be sure to log onto Facebook and make friends with Diana Spiloides to follow her activities! Also on Facebook, park naturalist Mike Murphy will be describing the activities from the researchers’ point of view.
Adopt a Snake: Ongoing fundraising efforts have assisted with monitoring and education about this threatened species. By contributing at least $25, you can be recognized in donor signage at the Visitor Centre at Murphys Point Provincial Park as well as on the Gray Ratsnake blog, as well as receiving a tax receipt. By “adopting a snake,” contributors help to offset the costs of population monitoring, which involves inserting a tiny microchip under a snake’s skin, and educational programming to help raise awareness about the snakes. The Friends also sell nifty Black Rat Snake T-shirts to help raise funds for future research and/or public awareness programs. These are available for sale at the Park Store.
To make a donation online, see below. For other ways to donate, click here.
