We are on the brink of a global biodiversity crisis — coined the “sixth mass extinction” by scientists. In Canada, reptiles are the hardest hit by the ecological downturn with almost three-quarters of our turtles, lizards and snakes considered “at risk” of being lost from within our borders.
Habitat destruction is a major culprit. When a meadow or a wetland is bulldozed for a new housing development, reptiles can’t pack their bags and fly away, they simply die along with their habitats.
But even where habitats are protected, threats like road mortality and habitat fragmentation threaten the long-term survival of populations living there.
This is the case locally. The West Windsor/LaSalle landscape is a very special place in terms of its biodiversity and its relative abundance of protected habitat. The Ojibway Prairie Complex, for example, contains the largest protected Tallgrass Prairie in the province.
Despite its ecological significance, this protected area is “fragmented” by major roads and development.
A recent road mortality study of the Ojibway Prairie Complex and LaSalle Woodlot ESA found that seven different types of Species at Risk reptiles are being killed on the roads including the bright yellow-chinned Blanding’s Turtle.
Also, at least one Eastern Foxsnake was found dead on the road every survey and as many as seven were found killed in one day. When extrapolated over the course of a year, these numbers add up and such a high death rate is definitely cause for concern.
If we want to sustain healthy populations of these magnificent creatures locally, then we will probably have to find ways to prevent the roadkill.
Something as simple as diverting wildlife to existing under-road culverts or installing special culverts at wildlife crossing hot spots makes sense locally.
These “ecopassages” would help to keep wildlife from being killed on the roads and allow them to move seamlessly through the landscape from one protected habitat to another.
This type of wildlife-friendly infrastructure is being installed all across the province (e.g., Hwy 69 and Long Point Causeway).
We are even starting to see it in our area. Take for example the eco-passage being built over the Windsor-Essex Parkway. This is a great first step toward a fully linked park system in West Windsor/LaSalle.
It’s obvious we are not going to tear down all the roads. It’s also obvious that we have an extremely diverse biological resource to protect.
Let’s look at accommodating both human and animal movement in a safe and ecological manner and demand a world class park system right here.
JONATHAN CHOQUETTE, Windsor