Strathcona County is rolling out new initiatives to safeguard plains garter snakes from road traffic this autumn. This decision follows a distressing report of over 1,000 snake fatalities recorded between 2023 and 2025 along a seven-kilometre segment of Range Road 210, extending from Township Road 530 to Wye Road in the southward direction.
Margo Pybus, the president of Friends of Cooking Lake-Blackfoot, raised this concern with the county after personally witnessing 41 deceased snakes during a drive along the road in May 2023. Pybus highlighted that the environment surrounding the road serves as a favored habitat for garter snakes. The east side offers a blend of fields and ponds ideal for summer foraging, while the west side provides prime denning spots during winter.
Due to this setup, snakes routinely traverse the highway during spring and fall seasons. Moreover, the warmth emanating from the asphalt acts as a welcome resting place for these cold-blooded reptiles as temperatures drop, as noted by Pybus.
Strathcona County is now collaborating with various organizations, including Friends of Cooking Lake-Blackfoot, Elk Island National Park, and the Beaver Hills Biosphere, to brainstorm innovative solutions for enhancing snake safety on the highway. The county has already introduced seasonal electronic message boards to alert drivers about snake presence and has ramped up social media campaigns to raise awareness.
Although permanent traffic signs were initially installed, they were repeatedly stolen, leading to their discontinuation due to financial constraints. While the implementation of these measures has resulted in reduced snake casualties, the exact cause—whether increased driver vigilance or a decline in snake populations—remains unclear.
This fall, the county plans to bolster its efforts by erecting fencing to guide snakes towards culverts that facilitate access to their dens without crossing the road. Additionally, speed limits will be lowered at an intersection housing a known den. The county also aims to foster behavioral changes among individuals traversing the area, emphasizing the significance of public cooperation in ensuring snake safety.
Motorists are urged to exercise caution along Range Road 210 and be on the lookout for garter snakes, which Pybus describes as easily identifiable if one knows what to look for. As Pybus succinctly puts it, “If there’s something on the road that’s a meter in length and in motion — it’s neither a branch nor a rock.”
This comprehensive approach by Strathcona County underscores its commitment to preserving wildlife and fostering harmonious coexistence between humans and the ecosystem.