Murphys Point is home to numerous native reptile species including the beloved Gray Ratsnake and a variety of turtle species. While we see an abundance of these scaly and shelled creatures in the park, many of the reptiles at Murphys Point are designated as species at risk in Ontario.

When a species is labelled as ‘at risk’, they are then classified as extirpated, endangered, threatened, or of special concern. The Gray Ratsnakes that call the park home belong to the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population, which is listed as threatened. There are turtle species in the park that are classified as special concern such as the Eastern Musk Turtle, Northern Map Turtle, and Snapping Turtle, and species listed as threatened, like the Blanding’s Turtle. This is why the Friends of Murphys Point and Discovery Team put great effort into monitoring and conservation projects such as our Adopt-a-Snake program and turtle nesting surveys. To learn more about the Adopt-a-Snake program, follow the link to our webpage here: https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca/adopt-a-snake/

We encourage you to let a staff member know if you see a Gray Ratsnake, nesting turtle, or turtle hatchling while visiting Murphys Point, as this helps us keep the park’s reptile population happy and healthy!