Hobbies And Interests
Colubrids
The family Colubridae has more species of snake than the other 17 families put together. In Canada, there are 21 species, all considered harmless to humans. These are: brown-snake; Butler's plain snake; common garter snake; eastern hognose snake; eastern ribbon snake; fox snake; gopher snake; milk snake; northern water snake; night snake; northwestern garter snake; plains garter snake; queen snake; racer; rat snake; redbelly snake; ringneck snake; sharptail snake; smooth green snake; western hognose snake; and the western terrestrial garter snake. The common garter snake is the most widespread, living throughout the southern states of Canada. Some of Canada's colubrids have highly specific diets. For example, queen snakes eat mainly crawfish.
Vipers
Canada's only dangerous snakes are vipers -- family Viperidae. The two remaining vipers in Canada are the massausaga, a small rattlesnake, and the western rattlesnake. One species, the timber rattlesnake, apparently became extinct in Canada during the middle of the 20th century with no confirmed sightings since 1941, although the species survives in the United States. The massausaga lives in southern Ontario, in wetlands, and the western rattlesnake in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Neither snake is likely to attack unless provoked, but seek immediate medical assistance in the event of bites.
Boas
Canada has one boa -- family Boidae. The rubber boa lives in the southern part of British Columbia, which is the most northern part of its range. As a species, the rubber boa is not classed as threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The rubber boa is relatively small, with adults usually reaching a length of less than 30 inches. Like other boas and pythons, it kills its prey by constriction.