Central Welland River Watershed Plan - Niagara Peninsula ...

CENTRAL WELLAND RIVER WATERSHED PLANThe definitions for these status designations by the OMNR are as follows:Extirpated: A native species that no longer exists in the wild in Ontario, but stillexists elsewhereEndangered ( Regulated): A species facing imminent extinction or extirpation inOntario which has been regulated under Ontario‟s Endangered Species ActEndangered (Not Regulated): A species facing imminent extinction orextirpation in Ontario which is a candidate for regulation under Ontario‟sEndangered Species ActThreatened: A species that is at risk of becoming endangered in Ontario iflimiting factors are not reversedSpecial Concern: A species with characteristics that make it sensitive to humanactivities or natural eventsEastern Massasauga RattlesnakeThe massasauga rattlesnake wasdesignated as a threatenedspecies in 1991 by COSEWIC.The massasauga rattlesnake isthe only venomous snake inOntario. It is brownish red to greyin colour with dark brown to blackmarkings along its back and sidewith a black belly and a rattle atthe tip of its tail. Threats to itssurvival include habitat loss,including fragmentation of habitatcaused by development,accidental killing by farmingactivities and human persecution.This species can be found in theWainfleet Bog area; one of only 4 areas where they can be found in Ontario. Efforts arebeing made by numerous organizations to help protect the small isolated Wainfleet Bogpopulations and the Wainfleet Bog. Recovery initiatives include for example, datacollection; restoration of bog water table and water level monitoring; restoration of bogplant communities and bare peat extracted communities; and public education(Canadian Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Recovery Team 1996)In addition to the listed endangered, threatened and species of special concern,numerous provincially rare species have also been documented by the OMNR and theNPCA within the Central Welland River Watershed Plan study area (Table 4).72