The Ojibway Prairie Reptile Recovery Program (OPRREC) is dedicated to the recovery of the Ojibway Prairie subpopulation of Eastern Massasaugas, while benefiting Butler’s Gartersnakes, and various other species at risk reptiles and plants within the Ojibway Prairie Complex and Greater Park Ecosystem. Successful project outcomes encompassed the removal of invasive plants, phragmites treatment, waste removal, installation of snake barrier fences to reduce road mortality, staff training in monitoring snake populations, and community engagement for ongoing snake conservation efforts. The program achieved its main objectives by implementing mitigation techniques to reduce threats to Eastern Massasauga, expanding the ex-situ population, improving conservation translocation methods, and developing a framework for collecting snake-related Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Habitat enhancement was conducted across a 7.6 ha area to improve grassland quality and connectivity, and involved the installation of 9 microhabitat features for snakes, removal of 128 kg of invasive plants, the control of 2.1 ha of Phragmites australis, and the removal of 154 kg of trash. The project addressed the threat of road mortality to Massasaugas and other reptile SAR by advocating for targeted traffic calming and installation of ecopassages, identifying hotspots, maintaining 750m of snake barrier fencing, and evaluating fence effectiveness. Monitoring goals for Massasauga and SAR snake population demographics, distribution, health, and habitat conditions were achieved through visual encounter surveys, artificial cover object surveys, road mortality surveys, and plant inventory surveys.

Collaborative efforts with partners aimed at increasing the size of the Massasauga species survival plan ex situ population. The project also focused on conducting research to improve the effectiveness of snake conservation translocations, securing permits, identifying suitable release sites, and conducting a systematic literature review. Future plans include ongoing research to improve conservation techniques, such as monitoring an artificial hibernation trail, and the experimental translocation of gartersnakes using radio telemetry, to validate techniques prior to applying them to Massasaugas.

Outreach and education objectives were met through diverse channels, including material delivery to public libraries, pamphlets, public presentations, outreach with park users, contributions to articles and blogs, and presentations at conferences, resulting in the engagement of at least 600 people or organizations. Progress toward the goal of collecting and preserving Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) for SAR snakes in three First Nations communities in Ontario was facilitated through framework development. Future planned activities include TEK surveys, production of snake TEK booklets, and incorporation of results into development of snake TEK engagement sessions, demonstrating a commitment to community engagement in reptile recovery efforts.