Friends of Murphys Point Park

Do you know how to tell apart an Eastern Garter Snake from a Northern Ribbon Snake? Garter snakes tend to have stockier bodies, shorter tails, wider heads, and stripes running along their body close to their belly. There may be patterning between stripes and the stripes themselves may be a little bit undefined. Ribbon snakes, however, have distinct stripes higher up on their body with no patterning between them, and they have a distinct white half-moon spot in front of their eye. Can you tell the two apart in the pictures below? 🐍

Ribbon snakes are classified as being a species at risk in Ontario, but it’s important to keep all of our snakes safe! You can do this by braking if you see them on the road, and making sure to keep our forests and environment as natural as possible to protect their habitats. 🌲

When visiting Murphys Point you may see the Eastern Garter Snake or a Northern Ribbon Snake, as well as some our many other species that live here at the park! 🏕️

When walking through the park you might find evidence of Canada’s national animal, the North American Beaver. The homes of these instinctive engineers are recognizable by many as a staple in the Ontario outdoors! 🦫

To build a lodge, beavers begin by creating a platform in the water out of sticks and mud. Next, more sticks are piled on top to create a dome-like structure. The beavers then dig entry tunnels and gnaw out chambers to serve as rooms. They reinforce the structure by coating the outside with mud (this is done regularly, as the mud gets washed away by rain and snow).🪵

There are several spots in Murphys Point where you might see a beaver lodge, including the Lally Loop Trail and the Beaver Pond Trail. Come and see these naturally engineered accommodations for yourself! 🐾