In June 2024, Ontario Nature joined Field Research in Evolution and Ecology Diversified (FREED) for an immersive five-day event at Queen’s University Biological Station. FREED events provide university students from underrepresented backgrounds in conservation with hands-on field experiences and an opportunity to connect with peers and mentors in their field of study. Teagan and Justine, two staff from Ontario Nature’s snake Long Term Monitoring Protocol project, led participants through a workshop on snake ecology, identification, and research – including the opportunity to practice safely handling snakes.
At first, many participants were apprehensive about getting up close with these unique and often misunderstood reptiles. Keep reading to learn more about the experience of Isabelle Li, one of the participants.
Thinking Like a Snake
For those of us who started out afraid, Justine and Teagan’s FREED workshop completely changed our perspective on snakes. They challenged the assumptions we previously held and provided us with new experiences we would have never dared to try on our own.
We made our way into the forest that morning, rain softly falling around us, many of us fully convinced we were better off never encountering a snake in the wild, let alone intentionally searching for one. An initial discussion revealed that for most of us, our limited prior knowledge of snakes made us believe they were unpredictable, frightening, and dangerous – or at least had us wary of meeting one, despite learning that every snake in the area was harmless.
At our first stop alongside a rocky clearing, we were encouraged to cast our preconceptions aside and instead see the world from a perspective we hadn’t considered before. The workshop leaders invited us to think like a snake, and predict their hiding places within the landscape based on the weather conditions, optimal shelter, and available warmth. We went about the forest, tentatively turning over mossy logs and rocks, bracing ourselves in anticipation for a slithery, monstrous creature to leap out at us from the darkness.
Shortly after, we found the first snake resting underneath a wooden cover board, and despite my previous fear I felt like I melted a little inside. It was the most adorable thing I had ever seen: a little juvenile gartersnake that was looking at us and the world with curiosity.
Its tiny forked tongue darted out from its mouth every few seconds to sniff the air, and we all eagerly waited our turn to learn how to hold it. As I watched it up close, I realized I had no reason to be afraid of these reptiles who were simply living and interacting with the world just like I was.
When my turn came, I felt both nervous and excited, but after seeing many of my peers overcome their fear and finish their turn with a big smile, I decided to give it a try. The snake relaxed in my hands, calmly allowing me to cradle it before I released it back next to the board where we found it.
From Anxiety to Excitement
We enthusiastically searched for more snakes throughout the rest of the workshop, as well as during our spare time for the rest of the FREED event. When Justine and Teagan found two large gray ratsnakes over the next couple of days, we all wanted a chance to see and hold them. While their much larger size would have previously scared me, and still made them more intimidating to approach, this time I calmly took her into my arms as I watched with interest and admiration.
On the last day of the FREED event, I was going for a swim in the lake with some newly-made friends, and as we approached the dock, we saw a watersnake basking in the sun. Emboldened from our workshop experience and excited for this sighting, we slowly approached it, but it sensed our presence and dove into the water.
My experiences with snakes during the training taught me that my previous fears and prejudices were inaccurate and easily changed through my interactions with them. Among the many unique experiences, new friendships, and encounters with nature that made our week with FREED unforgettable, this workshop provided me and other participants with a priceless opportunity to learn about and appreciate Ontario’s snakes from a perspective we will value for the rest of our lives.
FREED is a grassroots organization that hosts several yearly field-based events for Indigenous, Black, and/or Racialized (BIPOC) undergraduate students at participating universities. In 2025, FREED will host three events at the University of Toronto, Guelph University, and McMaster University.
If you are interested in participating in a future event or collaborating with FREED as a conservation professional or organization, email directorsfreed@gmail.com, or visit the FREED website to learn more.
Isabelle Li is an undergraduate student at Queen’s University who is currently studying Biology and Education. She cried the first time she saw an owl because it was really cool, and in her free time she likes to play punk music and Mario Kart on the Wii.
