Strathcona County has introduced new initiatives to safeguard plains garter snakes from vehicular traffic during the autumn season. The decision follows a significant toll of over 1,000 snake fatalities recorded between 2023 and 2025 along a seven-kilometer stretch of Range Road 210, spanning from Township Road 530 to Wye Road in a southern direction.
Margo Pybus, the president of Friends of Cooking Lake-Blackfoot, raised concerns regarding the escalating snake casualties to the county authorities. Pybus recalled encountering 41 deceased snakes within a short distance along the road during her drive in May 2023.
The area surrounding the road serves as a favored habitat for garter snakes, with the east side featuring fields and ponds suitable for summer feeding, while the west side offers ideal denning spots for winter. Consequently, the snakes traverse the highway biannually during spring and fall migrations, utilizing the warmth from the asphalt as a resting place when temperatures drop.
To address the issue, Strathcona County is collaborating with Friends of Cooking Lake-Blackfoot, Elk Island National Park, and the Beaver Hills Biosphere to devise strategies for enhancing snake safety along the highway. Measures undertaken include seasonal electronic message boards cautioning drivers about snake presence, along with targeted social media campaigns to raise awareness.
While permanent traffic signs were initially installed, they were repeatedly stolen, prompting the county to forgo replacements due to budget constraints. Although the snake fatality rate has decreased post-implementation of these measures, the exact cause – whether increased driver vigilance or a decline in snake populations – remains uncertain, as per Pybus.
This fall, the county plans to install fencing to guide snakes towards culverts enabling safe passage to their dens without crossing the road. Additionally, speed limits will be lowered at a specific intersection where a snake den is known to exist.
Strathcona County emphasizes the importance of modifying human behavior in addition to physical interventions. Jocelyn Thrasher-Haug, the county’s agriculture and environment manager, stressed the significance of educating people and managing their conduct to complement infrastructure improvements.
Motorists are urged to remain vigilant for snakes while traveling along Range Road 210, as garter snakes are easily identifiable if one knows what to look for. According to Pybus, a moving object of approximately one meter in length on the road should be recognized as a snake, not mistaken for a branch or rock.
