Banner year for rattlesnake calls
While snow has settled into Lethbridge’s river valley, the resident rattlesnake population has gone into hibernation for the winter. Which provides some welcome relief for the City of Lethbridge’s “rattlesnake whisperer” Ryan HeavyHead. He reported to 173 calls to relocate rattlesnakes between April and October this year, almost six times as many as in 2016.
Each year the City of Lethbridge operates a rattlesnake mitigation program to reduce the number of people/pet and snake encounters in the city. HeavyHead is consulted to relocate the snakes from an “area of conflict” back to their permanent natural habitat.
“This last year was the most calls there’s been than in any previous year that the program has run,” he said.
The high numbers are due to a combination of factors, HeavyHead believes. One reason is the public education program has spread the word to more people about the relocation services.
“So I think more people know about the program now and are more likely to utilize it, to call us,” said HeavyHead. “But I don’t think that explains everything because we’ve been doing pretty good public education for a couple years now.”
The hot, dry summer may have also played a factor in the number of rattlesnake sightings. HeavyHead said he picked up a lot of snakes from people’s gardens where the snakes had gone to get some shade in the lush green grass. Snakes are very habitual and will return to areas they remember as favourable each year, he explained.
“Even for the snakes, when it’s too hot, it’s just too hot,” he said. “There’s a certain temperature range they like, but above that they go into hiding, too.”
There’s no doubt in HeavyHead’s mind that the rattlesnakes are feeling “too much pressure” from the encroachment of residential subdivisions into their regular habitat areas.
“There’s pressure on what little bit of habitat they have left,” he said. The highest concentrated area for rattlesnake calls was in Paradise Canyon, with the Upper Canyons reporting 68 calls and the Lower Canyons with 19.
“In the Upper Canyons, there’s been so much new development over the last year,” he said. “To me, it suggests the development that’s going on is putting pressure on the snakes to find other places to go to hunt.”
The University of Lethbridge also reported a high number of calls (27), which HeavyHead says may be a result of construction work on the Destination Project.
Other areas around the city that reported calls include: Hardieville (two), Sandstone Ridge (two), Indian Battle Park (three), Legacy Ridge (four), Ridgewood/ Heritage Heights (five), SunRidge (five), Varsity Village (six), Popson Park (six), Scenic Drive (seven), RiverStone (eight) and Bridge Drive (11).
In 2016, there were a total of 29 calls, with 14 of those in the U of L area. The others were in Paradise Canyon/Canyons (seven), RiverStone (two), Bridgeview RV Resort (two), and one call in each of SunRidge, Bridge Drive, Far west acreages/Sunset Acres and Copperwood. There were 62 calls in 2015.
HeavyHead imagines the trend will continue next year with a high number of rattlesnake calls.
“We’re definitely not giving them anyplace else to go,” he said.
One day, HeavyHead dreams of opening a snake sanctuary and wildlife rehabilitation centre, if he can find some grants or people willing to sponsor the effort. An ideal location would be the land for sale near the bottom of Bridge Drive.
“It already has an established rattlesnake population and you really can’t do much development in there,” he said. “It’s been on the market for a long time.”
He’s discussed the idea among peers, however, there have been no formal discussions with the City. HeavyHead estimates he would need at least $1.5 million to make it a reality.
In the meantime, HeavyHead said he gets a lot of calls to deal with injured wildlife such as deer and birds. The closest place (that will take injured birds of prey only) is the Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale. The next closest is Calgary.
“I’m kind of in a sticky situation,” he said. “There’s legalities around which species you can do what with. Getting a rehabilitation centre that could be used also for education — that’s my big vision for the future.”