For inquiries on issues related to the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, contact:

Ministry of Natural Resources (Head Office)
P.O. Box 7000
300 Water St.
Peterborough ON K9J 8M5
 
Ministry of Natural Resources (Parry Sound)
7 Bay Street
Parry Sound ON P2A 1S4
(705) 746-4201
 
Ministry of Natural Resources (Owen Sound)
1450 7th Avenue East
Owen Sound ON N4K 3E4
(519) 376-3860

Wildlife Habitat Canada -- Ontario Wetland Habitat Fund

In August 1997 Wildlife Habitat Canada launched the Ontario Wetland Habitat Fund in partnership with the Province of Ontario (Ministry of Natural Resources). This partnership initiative provides financial and technical assistance to landowners who undertake projects to improve the ecological integrity of wetland habitats on their property. Landowners must have a conservation plan with clear objectives for their property in order to be eligible to receive funding for up to 50 % of the project cost, to a maximum of $5,000.

For more information, please visit their website:

http://www.whc.org/ontario_wetland.htm

Or, contact:

Wildlife Habitat Canada
7 Hinton Avenue North, Suite 200
Ottawa, ON K1Y 4P1

Telephone: (613) 722-2090
Fax: (613) 722-3318
Email: reception@whc.org

Land Care Niagara -- Technical and Financial Support Program:
 
The Council aims to promote and enhance responsible land use practices and cooperation through: 1) encouraging awareness of the range of values in the community; 2) minimizing conflicts through information and communication; 3) educating and providing the best information on responsible land management; and 4) creating partnerships between landowners/landusers/agencies/business and interest groups. Private landowners can apply for financial assistance for action-orientated projects that promotes wise land management.

For more information about the council and contacts, please go to:

http://www.ontariostewardship.org/NIAGARA/niagara.htm

Or contact: Michael Rose
Land Care ­ Niagara
491 Canboro Road
Box 96 Ridgeville, ON L0S 1M0

Tel: 905-892-5987
Fax: 905-892-3134
E-mail: lcn@niagara.com

Ontario Heritage Foundation -- Natural Heritage Program:
 
The Foundation helps to ensure that Ontario's wetlands, woodlands, grasslands and geological land formations remain a part of our future. It acquires natural heritage properties and conservation easements through donation as well as purchase. Protected land includes the habitats of endangered species, rare Carolinian forests, wetlands, sensitive features of the Oak Ridges Moraine, nature reserves on the Canadian Shield, and the spectacular Niagara Escarpment.

For information please visit their website:

http://www.heritagefdn.on.ca/Heritage/natural.htm 
 
Or contact:

Ontario Heritage Foundation
10 Adelaide Street East
Toronto, Ontario M5C 1J3

Telephone: 416-325-5000
Fax: 416-325-5071

Heritage Programs Branch
Tel: (416) 325-5000
Fax: (416) 325-5071
E-mail: programs@heritagefdn.on.ca

Nature Conservancy of Canada:
 
The single largest threat to Canada’s endangered species is the loss of their habitat. Protecting habitat and biological diversity through direct action is the principal focus of the organization. The Conservancy uses a number of techniques to protect natural areas, including: buying land; accepting land donations; joint purchases with other conservation groups; and negotiating conservation agreements (which allow owners to retain title and use of the land, while ensuring its protection from development).

For more information, go to: http://www.natureconservancy.ca

Or contact:

Nature Conservancy of Canada
110 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 400
Toronto, Ontario M4R 1A3
Tel.: (416) 932-3202
Fax: (416) 932-3208
Toll-free: 1-800-465-0029
Email: nature@natureconservancy.ca

Toronto Zoo Adopt-A-Pond Program:
 
Recognizing that over 75 percent of Ontario's wetlands have been destroyed due to drainage for agriculture or development, the Toronto Zoo started a program that involves local communities and schools in the protection and restoration of existing wetlands, as well as the creation of new wetland habitats. They are working towards a goal of having each of Ontario's 5,000 schools adopt a wetland for the monitoring and studying of amphibians (and other wildlife sharing the same habitats).

For more information on this program, please go to: http://eqb-dqe.cciw.ca/partners/adoptapond/urbanoutback/toc.html

For information concerning the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, please contact:

Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles
Toronto Zoo
361-A Old Finch Ave.
Scarborough ON M1B 5K7

Organizations to contact regarding the eastern massasauga rattlesnake or conservation issues in general:

Educational information about the eastern massasauga for landowners:
 
Gibbons, J.W. How dangerous are venomous snakes in America?
(http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/projects/SNAKEBIT.HTM)
 
Gibbons, J.W. Giving advice about rattlesnakes is not easy.
(http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/ecoview/Eco28.htm)
 
Metro Toronto Zoo. Reptile and Amphibian Research. 1p.
(http://www.torontozoo.com/conservation/reptiles.asp?nav=5)
 

 
New York State department of Environmental Conservation. 1998. Eastern massasauga fact sheet.
(http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/endspec/massfa.html)
 
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. 2000. The Wainfleet Bog and the eastern massasauga rattlesnake. Conservation Niagara, spring/summer 2000.
 
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. New Initiatives: Wainfleet Bog Ecological Restoration at the Wainfleet Bog Conservation Area.
(http://www.conservation-niagara.on.ca/conservation-areas/WainfleetBog.html)
 
Ohio Division of Wildlife. Life History Note: eastern massasauga rattlesnake.
(http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/odnr/wildlife/education/wildnotes/massa.html)
 
Ojibway Nature Centre. Eastern massasauga rattlesnake and eastern fox snake: know the difference. Department of Parks and Recreation, Windsor, Ontario.
 
Ontario Ministry of Health. 1984. Rattlesnakes in Ontario./Le serpent à sonnettes en Ontario. Toronto, Ontario. 1p.
 
Pratt, P.D. 2001. eastern massasauga rattlesnake. Ojibway Nature Centre Home Page. Department of Parks and Recreation, Windsor, Ontario.
(http://www.city.windsor.on.ca/ojibway/rattler.htm)
 
Prior, K.A. 2000. La legende de deux reptiles: conservation de la couleuvre obscure et du crotale massasauga.
(http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/es/recovery/spring98/fr9801essay.html)
 
Prior, K.A. 1999. Snake conservation a slippery feat. Science and the Environment Bulletin.
(http://www.ec.gc.ca/science/sandenov99/article6_e.html)
 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1999. Eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) fact sheet.
(http://www.fws.gov/r3pao/eco_serv/endangrd/reptiles/massasauga%20fact%20sheet.htm)
 
U.S. fish and wildlife Service. 1999. Eastern massasauga rattlesnake: Why conserve a poisonous snake?
(http://www.fws.gov/r3pao/eco_serv/endangrd/reptiles/conserve.htm)
 
Wisconsin department of Natural Resources. 1999. Massasauga rattlesnake, eastern.
(http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/factsheets/herps/masrat.htm)