Prepared by Scott D. Gillingwater

In Canada, the Queensnake (Regina septemvittata) only occurs within southern Ontario and is the least reported snake species in the province due to both its rarity and cryptic behaviour. Formerly found in approximately 26 localities in Ontario, it is now extant at about half of those sites. It is listed as endangered by COSEWIC (Committee On the Status of Endangered Wildlife In Canada), threatened under the Species at Risk Act and endangered under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007.

Threats and limiting factors affecting this species include habitat loss and degradation, intentional and unintentional human-caused mortality, genetic isolation, habitat specialization, prey specialization, pollution and invasive species.

The long-term recovery goal is to halt further declines and to achieve stable or increasing populations of Queensnake in Ontario at all sites throughout the current distribution and, where and when feasible, at sites within the historic distribution that have suitable habitat. In order to successfully recover this species, the following short term objectives have been established:

  1. Increase knowledge of distribution, abundance, life history, and habitat needs of Queensnake in Ontario;
  2. Determine population abundance and dynamics;
  3. Maintain/enhance the quantity and quality of Queensnake habitat;
  4. Inventory crayfish diversity at each extant and historic Queensnake location, investigate diversity, relative abundance, habitat needs and the presence of the exotic Rusty Crayfish;
  5. Investigate the feasibility for supplementation or reintroduction of Queensnake to parts of its current and historic range;
  6. Reduce or mitigate threats to the Queensnake and its habitat where feasible;
  7. Coordinate recovery efforts with appropriate conservation groups to protect individuals, and to maintain or recover populations and habitat;
  8. Provide awareness and educational resources to individuals and communities living near extant Queensnake populations or using extant Queensnake locales for recreation.

Recovery should be accomplished by reducing mortality through the protection and maintenance of vital aquatic and terrestrial habitats, restoring degraded habitat, preventing the loss of the primary food source and through public education and awareness.

It is recommended that the area prescribed as habitat in a habitat regulation for Queensnake include the extent of known terrestrial and aquatic habitat within all remaining sites where the species persists. We recommend prescribing Queensnake habitat as the area 250 m up and down stream from each occurrence, and 30 m from the high water mark on each side of the water course along this area. Where the shoreline is not immediately apparent, an area of 250 m in all directions from the observation should be included. Also, all terrestrial and aquatic habitat within 50 m of all foraging, hibernacula, thermoregulation, parturition and shedding sites that do not lie within 30 m of the high water mark should be prescribed as habitat in a habitat regulation. This would provide protection for hibernation, gestation, parturition, thermoregulation, shedding and foraging habitats, as well as habitat for prey (i.e., crayfish). If re-introduction is considered feasible, recovery habitat should also be defined in the habitat regulation.