J.P. Antonacci, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Hamilton Spectator
Globe-trotting explorer Adam Shoalts has been referred to as “Canada’s Indiana Jones,” however there’s a key distinction — Indy famously hates snakes, whereas Shoalts goes in search of them.
The self-described “professional adventurer” is greatest recognized for epic solo treks, like traversing almost 4,000 kilometres of Canada’s Arctic and following birds from Lake Erie to the Arctic in a three-month canoe journey chronicled in his ebook “Where the Falcon Flies.”
Now the 37-year-old is on a mission to criss-cross the nation and {photograph} Canada’s 33 native snake species within the wild.
The “Great Canadian Snake Quest” is supposed to showcase animals which can be typically ignored and misunderstood, Shoalts advised The Spectator from his home in St. Williams, nestled in Norfolk County’s Carolinian forest.
“When we think of our iconic wildlife, it’s always beavers and moose and polar bears. Snakes sometimes get a bad rap,” Shoalts mentioned.
“And so many of them are already threatened or endangered. They’re losing their habitat. So I thought it was timely to bring more attention to the snakes.”
The snake quest — which is sponsored by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the place Shoalts is an explorer-in-residence — got here out of his 2018 expedition to Pelee Island to trace down one in all Canada’s rarest animals, the endangered blue racer.
Fewer than 400 of the small, speedy snakes are thought to reside within the wild, and Shoalts anticipated a painstaking search. To his shock, he and fellow explorer Wes Crowe paddled to Middle Island — Canada’s southernmost land mass — on the second day of their journey and noticed the elusive blue racer close to a patch of poison ivy.
“Sometimes you just get lucky,” Shoalts mentioned. “If you’re specifically looking for something, on the other hand, you’re probably more likely to find it.”
While on Pelee, Shoalts photographed a number of different native snake species — together with the japanese fox snake, Lake Erie watersnake, and a melanistic, or all-black, garter — and thought it might be enjoyable to seek out all of them.
He has a head begin by residing in southern Ontario, the place many snake species jostle for house alongside people.
“I was just finding snakes incidentally, because I’m always out in the woods,” mentioned Shoalts, who racked up sightings in Norfolk and Haldimand counties, by the Grand River in Paris, and on his household’s property in Niagara.
Unexpectedly coming upon a red-sided garter snake throughout a July 2020 solo journey by way of the Hudson Bay Lowlands — a wetland tons of of kilometres outdoors the snake’s beforehand recognized vary — was an eye-opener for Shoalts and reptile consultants — or herpetologists — alike.
“My favourite thing to do in the whole world is walk in the woods,” Shoalts mentioned. “You never know what you’re going to find.”
Making it a problem
So far, Shoalts has photographed 12 of Canada’s 33 native snakes, however he mentioned there are “big debates” in herpetology circles about whether or not sure snakes are subspecies or distinct species.
He may snap an image of a standard garter snake “and be done with it,” Shoalts defined, however that would go away out a half-dozen garter subspecies — a few of that are all however indistinguishable within the wild.
“I decided to do all of them,” he mentioned. “It might as well be a challenge.”
Shoalts tracks his progress by way of an internet site — snakequest.ca — he imagined could be primarily a useful resource for lecturers “and maybe spark a bit of excitement among students.” But he mentioned the location has additionally impressed “enthusiastic responses” from his followers and folks throughout Canada who’re enthusiastic about, and in some instances repulsed by, the slithery creatures.
Shoalts mentioned whereas most individuals can identify a garter snake, “the average Canadian has no idea we actually have dozens of species” and is “shocked” to study there are tree-dwelling snakes in Canada that may develop so long as eight toes.
Snakes may be discovered throughout Canada’s numerous geography — they reside in forests, deserts, grasslands, mountains and wetlands — and maintain ecosystems wholesome by snacking on rodents and invasive fish. But snake populations, like these of different reptiles and amphibians, have “declined dramatically” as their habitat is paved over for growth, Shoalts mentioned.
Thirteen native Canadian snake species are endangered and three others are threatened, whereas the venomous timber rattlesnake is regarded as extinct in Canada, because it has not been seen because the early Nineteen Forties.
Shoalts hopes telling guests to his web site concerning the threats snakes face will encourage them to take motion to advertise environmental conservation.
Tread evenly, look fastidiously
Catching garters within the woods round his childhood home in Pelham first bought Shoalts involved in snakes. He was hooked for all times after spending a teenage summer season learning the japanese massasauga rattlesnake — Ontario’s solely remaining venomous snake — for the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources.
After a number of hours looking out the thick woods of the Wainfleet Bog in July 2021, Shoalts discovered and photographed an japanese massasauga for the snake quest — being cautious to not get too shut.
“One of my rules is that I never actually touch a snake,” he mentioned.
“I believe, from an ethical point of view, that wildlife shouldn’t be disturbed. So I never pick them up or do anything with them. I just take their picture from a respectful distance.”
Shoalts, who makes use of an atypical digital camera with no zoom lens, treads evenly and quietly, in search of “any hint of movement” on the forest ground and within the bushes.
Before heading out seeking a selected snake, he researches its habitat and finds trails or provincial parks the place there have been reported sightings.
To {photograph} the endangered queen snake, he was guided to a forested creek in southern Ontario stuffed with crayfish — the striped reptile’s favorite meals — and stumbled on a half-dozen snakes lounging in tree branches over the water.
Some snakes are shy and can flee after the shutter clicks, whereas the extra curious will boldly come as much as Shoalts to research.
Most species, together with the venomous massasauga rattler, should not aggressive.
“Yeah, they’re venomous, but they’re very unlikely to actually bite you,” Shoalts mentioned. “Pretty much unless you step on one or try to pick it up, it’s not going to do anything to you.”
Slithering west
Shoalts nonetheless has 4 Ontario species to {photograph} — together with the enormous black rat snake — and he plans to go to Western Canada in June, once more recruiting Crowe to assist spot recalcitrant reptiles just like the prairie rattlesnake, bull snake and desert night time snake, a nocturnal species that solely lives in a single tiny space of British Columbia.
“Things are definitely going to get harder,” Shoalts mentioned.
But he has assist. Since launching the web site, fellow fans have despatched in tips on the place to seek out sure snakes and invited Shoalts to remain on their properties in Western Canada and the Maritimes whereas he searches. Closer to home, a biologist within the Windsor space has supplied to indicate Shoalts the place to seek out Butler’s garter snakes.
“That’s definitely a bonus of doing all this — meeting strangers who share my interest. That’s been a lot of fun,” Shoalts mentioned.
Unlike his extra high-profile treks, Shoalts has no timeline for this hobby-turned-quest and may search for snakes every time one other expedition brings him east or west.
“There’s no end point,” he mentioned.
“This is a bucket list. Eventually, I’d like to see them all.”
