Strathcona County has introduced new initiatives to safeguard plains garter snakes from vehicular traffic during this autumn season. This decision follows a distressing report of over 1,000 snake fatalities occurring between 2023 and 2025 along a seven-kilometre section of Range Road 210, stretching from Township Road 530 to Wye Road in the south.
The president of Friends of Cooking Lake-Blackfoot, Margo Pybus, raised awareness about the issue after observing 41 deceased snakes in a short segment of the road in May 2023. The region alongside the road serves as a favored habitat for garter snakes, offering a combination of fields and ponds on the east side for summer feeding and ideal denning spots on the west side for winter shelter.
As a result, the snakes regularly cross the highway during spring and fall migrations. Moreover, the warmth emitted from the asphalt serves as a crucial resting place for these cold-blooded reptiles as temperatures drop. To address this concern, Strathcona County is collaborating with various organizations to devise strategies for enhancing snake safety along the highway.
Presently, the county has introduced seasonal electronic message boards cautioning drivers to watch out for snakes and has utilized targeted social media campaigns to raise awareness. Additionally, permanent traffic signs were initially installed but were repeatedly stolen, leading to their discontinuation due to financial constraints.
Although there has been a decline in snake casualties since the implementation of these measures, the reason for this decrease, whether it be due to increased driver vigilance or a reduction in snake populations, remains uncertain according to Pybus. This autumn, the county plans to install fencing to guide snakes towards culverts enabling access to dens without crossing the road. Furthermore, speed limits will be lowered at a specific intersection where a den is known to exist.
Strathcona County aims not only to focus on physical infrastructure improvements but also on changing public behavior. By encouraging responsible driving and educating the community, they hope to create a safer environment for both snakes and motorists. Drivers are advised to be vigilant when traveling along Range Road 210 and to watch out for garter snakes, which are easily identifiable if one knows what to look for, as mentioned by Pybus.