Let’s Talk About Seaside Snakes

Snakes are amazing critters that live in many regions of the world…except where it is really cold. Some are big, some are small, and often they are misunderstood and feared in ways that have contributed to their decline in many areas. In B.C., there are nine species of snake, six of which are of conservation concern. The remaining three species however (all garter snakes) are often quite abundant locally and might even live in your backyard. Have you ever heard the saying “snake in the grass”? Well, that is probably where a garter snake is hiding on a sunny spring day on the west coast. With coloured stripes down their backs and sides, the grass is the perfect place to be camouflaged, digest a meal, or escape from a predator. Come and  learn all about garter snakes (what they eat, where they live, how they spend their time) and the cool part …. they play in the west coast ecosystems around us.

When: Wednesday,  November 9th @ 7pm
Where: George Fraser Room; Ucluelet Community Centre
*admission is by donation and seating limited so will be first come
A Speaker Series event presented by Raincoast Education and Wetland Stewards Societies

Krysia Tuttle, M.Sc., R.P.Bio:  Krysia is a passionate wildlife biologist, park naturalist, and outdoor enthusiast, with over 20 years experience working with wildlife and in the great outdoors. She began catching snakes and frogs at a very early age and studied Plains Garter Snakes in the aspen parklands of Alberta (which means she caught and hung out with over 600 snakes during the summers!!!).

She  works at LGL Limited environmental research associates on a wide variety of wildlife and fish projects. She specializes in long-term wildlife population monitoring, wetland restoration, amphibian and reptile studies (herpetology), small mammal monitoring, remote camera work, radiotelemetry, and Species at Risk projects.

She has been involved with several educational and outreach programs, and loves giving talks to communities including elementary school programs in Victoria, UVic Biology Dept., BC Parks, Let’s Talk Science programs, and Saturna Island Marine and Research Education Society.

She lives in Victoria, B.C. with her husband, two daughters (Brea and Maisie), and their dog Sandpiper.