assess the maintenance requirements of a 1.7km mitigation stretch designed for the protection of snakes and turtles. The study aimed to shed light on the often-overlooked aspects of road mitigation design for reptiles with the objectives of providing connectivity across roads and reducing road mortality for Species at Risk (SAR) reptiles, including Massasauga Rattlesnakes and Eastern Foxsnakes.

 The evaluation noted all fence gaps, and potential breach locations for snakes and turtles and any deficiencies in culverts for reptile crossings. Subsequent to our evaluation, we provided an educational combined field and virtual workshop with practitioners to go over the deficiencies and to begin a plan for repair and adaptive management that would be followed by monitoring whether the repairs were functional.

The following deficiencies were repaired: all jump-outs that were installed incorrectly were closed off with plastic mesh they allowed snakes to move onto the road. All fence gaps were closed and connections to the culverts were re-established. Vegetation was cleared at culvert entrances so animals could move into the structure, and a ‘reptile ladder’ was built at a perched culvert entrance. Last, we extended exclusion fence at a fence end to direct animals into a culvert for safe crossing.

Road surveys were conducted in both the mitigated and a control section of road to compare the number of alive and dead reptiles, including Massasauga rattlesnakes, Painted turtles, Eastern foxsnakes, Brownsnakes, Red-bellies, and Gartersnakes between sections. Unfortunately, the comparative analysis revealed that the maintenance efforts had not significantly reduced road-kill rates for snakes. However, we do not believe that this is because of the lack of effectiveness of our mitigation efforts but rather there was minimal movement of reptiles in 2022 and there was highway construction at our control section, which limited data collections.

The study underscored the importance of providing oversight by experienced practitioners when designing and installing mitigation measures for reptiles. In addition, before and after efforts to monitor crossing structure use and road-kill reduction is necessary to adaptively manage and maintain mitigation measures.  

Future recommendations to ensure functionality of mitigation systems include providing effective and well-built escape opportunities, ensuring exclusion fencing is continuous, and extends and abuts crossing structures well. More research is required to adequately ascertain whether snakes will use culvert structures to cross roads. Camera monitoring should use time lapse photography during the day from April to November. Collaborations with key stakeholders such as the responsible road agency, road ecologists, First Nations, the Georgian Bay Biosphere, and local landscaping companies can help ensure a holistic and cost-effective approach for planning for, designing, installing, monitoring, and maintaining mitigation systems.