Protecting the brown snake of urban Montreal
Whenever there is a mention of the word “snake,” it’s quite easy to notice that more than a few people cringe. However, despite the reputation that precedes them, snakes are known to play a critical role in the food chain. This greatly affects the balance in nature, shares animal conservationist Enrico Andreoli of Montreal. In this blog, much attention is focused on the brown snake.
The brown snake is also known as the most urban reptile in Quebec. In the province, it is only found within the area of greater Montreal. Mainly, the brown snake feeds on a diet of snails, worms, and slugs. On the other hand, the brown snake is a staple part of the diet of crows, weasels, and raccoons. This highlights the importance of the brown snake as an “in-between” participant in the food chain.
To create a rough description, the absence of the brown snake will seriously remove the general control over the population of snails, worms, and slugs. This will also affect the food supply of crows, weasels, and raccoons. Enrico Andreoli Montreal further adds that this will cause a domino effect all the way up the food chain where the apex predators are found.
The first group of animals cannot be directly consumed by the second group along the food chain. For this reason, it is of paramount importance for the community to put a halt to the decreasing population of brown snakes.
By far, the biggest threat to the population of this critical species is urban development. This is because this animal is small enough to be an urban dweller. However, further urban expansion gives it a more difficult time to thrive, as Enrico Andreoli Montreal attests.
Luckily, conservation efforts in Montreal, particularly from the Ecomuseum Zoo, have ensured that something concrete is being done in protecting the natural habitat of this truly important species.