A study of the snake population of the Douglas Lake region, with special concentration on the Sedge Point Pools.

Abstract

This study was not comprehensive enough to arrive at any definite conclusions and certainly nothing was proved. However, in summarizing the summer's study, I would like to list several hypotheses or perhaps better called possibilities which are the major points of the paper. They are as follows: 1. Snakes do show habitat preference, N. sipedon choosing aquatic areas in general, T. sauritus choosing bushy areas near water, and T. sirtalis not showing a great amount of habitat preference. 2. Of the three species studied T. sirtalis has best adapted itself to the presence of man. 3. The three species of snakes studied do prefer and need shade. 4. When captured T. sirtalis typically demonstrates the ""extrusion reaction,"" T. sauritus the ""twisting reaction"" and N. sipedon the ""biting reaction."" 5. The snakes studied, restricted themselves to a limited area in their activities. 6. N. sipedon feeds largely on small fish. 7. The comparative average lengths of the tails in relation to average total body length is correlated to the behavior of the snakes studied. 8. No intraspecific antagonism exists in the species, T. sauritus, N. sipedon or T. sirtalis, under normal conditions. 9. No interspecific antagonism exists between N. sipdeon and T. sauritus under normal conditions.