Strathcona County is introducing new measures to safeguard plains garter snakes from road traffic during this autumn. The decision follows over 1,000 snake fatalities recorded between 2023 and 2025 along a seven-kilometre section of Range Road 210, stretching from Township Road 530 to Wye Road in a southern direction.
Margo Pybus, the president of Friends of Cooking Lake-Blackfoot, raised awareness about the issue to the county authorities after personally observing 41 deceased snakes during a drive along the road in May 2023.
The road’s surroundings offer an ideal habitat for garter snakes, with the east side featuring a combination of fields and ponds that the snakes favor for foraging in the summer, while the west side provides suitable denning sites for the winter season.
As a result, the snakes regularly traverse the highway in spring and fall. The warmth emitted by the asphalt also serves as a comfortable resting spot for the cold-blooded reptiles as temperatures cool down.
Strathcona County is now collaborating with various organizations like Friends of Cooking Lake-Blackfoot, Elk Island National Park, and the Beaver Hills Biosphere to devise innovative solutions to enhance snake safety along the highway.
The county has implemented seasonal electronic message boards warning drivers to be vigilant for snakes and has utilized targeted social media campaigns to raise awareness. Despite installing permanent traffic signs, they were repeatedly stolen, leading to a decision not to replace them due to financial constraints.
Although the number of snake casualties has decreased following the implementation of these measures, it remains uncertain whether this reduction is due to increased driver caution or a decline in snake populations, as noted by Pybus.
This fall, the county plans to enhance its initiatives by erecting fencing to guide snakes towards culverts, enabling them to reach their dens without crossing the road. Additionally, speed limits will be reduced at an intersection where a den is known to exist.
The county also aims to influence public behavior positively, emphasizing the importance of people’s actions in safeguarding the snakes.
Drivers are urged to stay alert while driving on Range Road 210 and watch out for garter snakes. Pybus mentioned that garter snakes are easily noticeable if one knows what to look for, emphasizing that if drivers spot a moving object about a meter in length, it is likely a snake and not a branch or rock.