Have you seen a reptile yet this year?
Midland Painted Turtles basking in the weak spring sun of early April
Photo: Toby Rowland
The reptiles in the area are waking up and taking any opportunity they can to kickstart their metabolism with some well earned basking.

With ice still covering most nature reserve ponds at the moment we still have some time before we really get into the active reptile season, but it's just around the corner. Now is a good time to start thinking about your first reptile visit of the season! A warm day will bring them out into the open in search of some warm sheltered spot to bask in. A warm day in early spring can be an ideal time to search for reptiles, they are usually more likely to stay in one place for good ID, and they are more easily seen with no new vegetation to hide in.

Now is a great time to read over your monitoring manual as a refresher before the reptiles really get going.
A sluggish Eastern Garter Snake trying to soak up enough sun to get moving on a cool late March day
Photo: Toby Rowland
Training:
Online and in the field
Online Training
We have created some online training, which is mandatory for any new volunteers, but is also available for any existing Reptile Monitors who would like to take it as a refresher. We have recycled the training videos from last year and created some more interactive courses through a program called EdApp. This is self directed learning with videos and quizzes to get you thinking again about the upcoming reptiling season! You can sign up for EdApp by clicking here. Make sure to sign up to EdApp with this link, otherwise you will not be able to see any of our training content.

As a Reptile Monitor you will be looking for the Reptile Monitoring course.

Feel free to also sign up for one of our 'drop-in' training sessions at the office. We can help if you would like assistance signing up for EdApp, or if you would like to do the training at the office with staff available for any questions you might have. You can sign up for one of those sessions through eventbrite by clicking here.
In The Field Training
We have outdoor training sessions, which are mandatory for all new volunteers, but are also available for any existing monitors who are interested.

We will be heading out to the the T.C. Agnew NR to look for nesting sites, turtles, and snakes. We will cover how best to approach ponds, and which angles work for best results.
One of 8 Midland Painted Turtles found along Willow Creek on April 2nd

Photo: Toby Rowland
Assistance in the field
I will be joining new teams for their site orientation, but I am more than happy to join any existing teams that would like a refresher at their site as well. If you would like me to come out with you on your next visit then let me know and we can schedule it in. 
 
If you are running into any issues, have questions, or would like some feedback then feel free to get in touch.
Things to remember:

  • The Reptile Monitoring Program Manual

  • Reptile and Amphibian ID guide

  • Load your nature reserve map onto Avenza

  • Monitoring Forms


If you don't have a copy of the manual, ID guide, or and Avenza map with your boards then contact Toby at toby@couchconservacy.ca.
What to do if you find wildlife on the road?


Found a turtle on the road? Contact the S.T.A.R.T Project (705 955 4284) or the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre
(705 741 5000)



I am Toby Rowland, the Conservation Biologist at The Couchiching Conservancy. If you have questions about Community Science, Species At Risk, or wildlife in general then feel free to get in touch.

Email: toby@couchconservancy.ca
Work hours: 9:00am-5:00pm
Phone: (705) 559-5278
You are receiving this email because you are a Reptile Monitor with The Couchiching Conservancy. Please let us know if things have changed and you can longer volunteer, or do not wish to receive these emails. 
The Couchiching Conservancy | couchichingconserv.ca