Wildlife Safety in Cognashene

The Massasauga is a small, stocky rattlesnake — adults typically reach 50–75 cm (20–30 inches). It is the only venomous snake in Ontario. Despite its reputation, the Massasauga is shy and non-aggressive; bites almost always occur when the snake is accidentally stepped on or when someone attempts to pick it up. It plays a vital role in the local ecosystem as a predator of small rodents.

In the Georgian Bay area, Massasaugas are most active from May through October. They favour rocky outcrops, sunny ledges, and shoreline areas where they can warm themselves. On cool spring and fall mornings you are most likely to find one on a sun-heated rock.

Three snake species are commonly encountered in the Cognashene area. Only one is venomous. The Eastern Fox Snake in particular is frequently mistaken for a rattlesnake — knowing the differences protects you and the harmless species. When in doubt, keep your distance from all snakes.

1. 1 Keep paths clear
   • Keep walking paths clear of brush and dense bushes so snakes are easily visible before you approach.
2. 2 Wear appropriate footwear
   • Wear closed shoes or boots (not sandals) when walking at night. Use a flashlight and consider carrying a stick to sweep bushes ahead of you as you walk.
3. 3 Give snakes space
   • If you see a snake, back away. Rattlesnakes almost only bite if startled or if they feel cornered. Never attempt to handle, move, or kill any snake.
4. 4 Educate kids and guests
   • Teach children and visitors what the three local snake species look like. Make sure they know what a rattle sounds like and what to do if they spot one.
5. 5 Have a cottage safety plan
   • Post a written safety sheet for anyone working or staying at your cottage so they know what to do if bitten. Include your dock number and GPS coordinates beside the phone.
6. 6 Dress for outdoor work
   • When doing yard or bush work at the cottage, wear work boots and long pants to protect the lower legs and feet — the most common bite locations.
7. 7 Know your location details
   • Post your dock number and the longitude and latitude of your cottage near the phone. If a rescue is needed, having this information ready significantly speeds up response time.

The goal is to reach hospital as quickly and safely as possible. Early treatment is directly linked to a better outcome.

1. 1 Move away from the snake
   • Back away calmly. Do not attempt to catch, photograph close-up, or harm the snake.
2. 2 Stay calm
   • Panic and rapid movement increase heart rate and can accelerate venom circulation. Keep the victim as still and calm as possible.
3. 3 Call 911 immediately
   • Ask the dispatcher about involving the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. The decision to send the Coast Guard is based on your location and which emergency service has the fastest response time.
   • Give your dock number and GPS coordinates immediately — this information will speed up your rescue considerably.
4. 4 Reduce movement of the bitten limb
   • If possible, do not move the part of the body where you were bitten. Have someone carry the victim to the dock rather than having them walk.
5. 5 If alone, stay by the phone
   • Do not attempt to travel alone. Stay near a telephone or radio and wait for emergency services.
6. 6 Remove tight clothing and jewellery
   • Remove rings, watches, bracelets, and tight clothing from the affected limb. Swelling can begin quickly and constrictive items become dangerous.
7. 7 Wash the bite gently
   • Gently wash the bite area with soap and water if available.
8. 8 Keep the victim warm
   • Keep the bite victim warm while waiting for help.
9. 9 Immobilize the limb
   • Place the bitten limb at or below the level of the heart, or have the victim lie down flat.

• DO NOT apply ice or a tourniquet — ice does not neutralize venom and a tourniquet can cause serious tissue damage.
• DO NOT cut or apply suction to the bite area — this is ineffective and causes additional injury.
• DO NOT try to capture or kill the snake — this puts more people at risk and delays getting the victim to hospital.
• DO NOT assume it was a “dry bite” — even if the victim feels no immediate symptoms, go to hospital. A dry bite (no venom injected) can only be confirmed through blood tests.

Bears have an extraordinarily keen sense of smell — approximately seven times more powerful than a dog’s. They can detect food odours from kilometres away and will investigate any potential source along their travel route. Removing attractants is the single most effective way to prevent bear encounters at your property.

Most black bear encounters are brief, surprise meetings — the bear is as startled as you are. If you see a bear before it sees you, back away quietly and give it room to leave. If the encounter is unavoidable:

1. 1 Stay calm and do not run
   • Running can trigger a bear’s chase instinct. Remain still or back away slowly while facing the bear. Give the bear a clear escape route.
2. 2 Make yourself known
   • Speak to the bear in a calm, firm voice. Raise your arms to appear larger. The bear needs to recognise you as a human, not prey.
3. 3 Back away slowly
   • Move toward safety while keeping the bear in view. Do not turn your back on it.
4. 4 If the bear follows or approaches
   • Stop. Continue speaking firmly. Wave your arms, bang pots, use an air horn, or make any loud noise.
   • Pick up small children immediately.
   • Deploy bear spray if the bear closes within approximately 8 metres.
5. 5 If the bear attacks — fight back
   • Unlike grizzly or polar bears, you should fight back against a black bear. Black bear attacks are almost always predatory, not defensive. Physical resistance is the correct response.
   • Punch, kick, and use any available object. Focus counter-attacks on the bear’s nose and eyes.
   • Do not play dead with a black bear.

Not every bear sighting requires a report. A bear passing through your property, feeding on berries in the bush, or spotted in the forest is normal wildlife behaviour. Report a bear when it is:

• Entering or damaging a building or other structure.
• Killing or injuring livestock or pets.
• In a campground or populated area and cannot be scared away.
• Threatening human safety or has injured a person.
• Returning repeatedly to a property despite removal of all attractants.

Ticks in the Cognashene Area

Blacklegged ticks (deer ticks) are present in Simcoe and Muskoka, and local specimens have tested positive for Lyme disease. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit rates our region low risk — well below eastern Ontario — but that risk is expanding as the climate warms, and low risk is not no risk.

• Active April to October — any time it is above freezing and the ground is clear of snow. That is most of the cottage season.
• They wait in leaf litter, long grass and brush, especially where a lawn or path meets the bush. They do not jump or drop from trees; you brush past and they grab on.
• Nymphs cause most infections — poppy-seed sized, active in late spring and summer, and the bite is painless. People simply never notice them, which is why checking matters more than feeling.

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