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Public warned about snake bites; Rattlesnakes
have bitten six around Georgian Bay this year:[Final Edition] |
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Author(s): |
Stephanie
Cesca The Canadian Press |
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Article
types: |
News |
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Dateline: |
Toronto |
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Section: |
Canada |
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Publication
title: |
The
Windsor Star. Windsor, Ont.: Aug 12,
2002. pg. B.1.FRO |
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Source
Type: |
Newspaper |
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ProQuest
document ID: |
219548101 |
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Text
Word Count |
521 |
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Article
URL: |
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Abstract (Article Summary) |
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John Birnbaum,
executive director of the Georgian Bay Association, an umbrella organization
that represents 4,500 families, said that six people in and around the area
have been bitten this summer by the Massasauga rattlesnake, the only
poisonous snake in Ontario. "We are
tracking six reported bites in the area this year. As bites are up, obviously
people should take care," Birnbaum said, noting that normally only one
or two people are bitten each summer by the brown-and-grey rattlesnake that
grows up to a metre long. Currently,
there are only four areas of habitat for the Massasauga, considered a
threatened species in Ontario. The small and slow-moving snake known to spend
most of its life alone and in hiding can be found in two large areas around
Georgian Bay, as well as in Windsor and Port Colborne. |
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Full Text (521 words) |
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Copyright Southam Publications Inc. Aug 12, 2002 Cottagers and
residents of the Georgian Bay area are being urged to take extra care when
outdoors this summer after six people were bitten by potentially deadly
rattlesnakes. John Birnbaum,
executive director of the Georgian Bay Association, an umbrella organization
that represents 4,500 families, said that six people in and around the area
have been bitten this summer by the Massasauga rattlesnake, the only
poisonous snake in Ontario. "We are
tracking six reported bites in the area this year. As bites are up, obviously
people should take care," Birnbaum said, noting that normally only one
or two people are bitten each summer by the brown-and-grey rattlesnake that
grows up to a metre long. Kent Prior, a
species-at-risk adviser at Environment Canada, said the increase in bites
could be attributed to two possible reasons: either the snakes are more
active this summer, given the hot and dry weather, or there's been a jump in
the reptile's population. "My sense
is that it's probably a combination of (those reasons)," Prior said. Currently,
there are only four areas of habitat for the Massasauga, considered a
threatened species in Ontario. The small and slow-moving snake known to spend
most of its life alone and in hiding can be found in two large areas around
Georgian Bay, as well as in Windsor and Port Colborne. The population
of the snake, estimated to be somewhere in the thousands, has suffered a
steady decline and is believed to have decreased by about 60 per cent within
the last decade. The main
contributor to this drop, Prior says, is increased development and a
depletion of the type of rocky, open areas and wetlands the snake likes to
live in during the summer and hibernation months respectively. Although bites
may be up this summer, Prior said it's unusual for the snake to show any
aggression, as it's known for being quite timid. "They're
not aggressive and not typically dangerous to human health and safety,"
he said. If anyone
encounters a Massasauga, the snake will use its defence mechanism of rattling
its tail to warn potential predators to keep away. "You
should never pick it up or disturb it or molest it," Prior warns.
"They're venomous. So in the same way you are with a beehive, you
wouldn't dink around with it with a stick." If anyone is
bitten, Prior suggests seeking immediate medical attention, even though venom
is discharged in only about 60 per cent of rattlesnake bites. All hospitals
near the snake's habitats carry antivenom to treat bites, he adds. Norm Miller,
member of provincial parliament for the Parry Sound- Muskoka riding, said the
area is trying to increase its stockpile of the serum to deal with any future
increase of snake bites. "I'm not
that familiar with snakes myself," he said. "But I think it's
fairly natural to be a little nervous." Otherwise,
anyone who crosses paths with the Massasauga is encouraged to enjoy the
experience at a safe distance and appreciate the reptile's beauty. "It's a
great thing to see one because it means there's something good about the
habitat," Prior says. "They like ecologically healthy areas." |