Massasauga (Georgian Bay Islands, Fathom Five National Marine Park): critical habitat description

The Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is listed on Schedule 1 to the Species at Risk Act as threatened. The Massasauga, eastern Canada’s only venomous snake, is a stout-bodied, relatively small rattlesnake; adults are typically 50 to 70 cm long. It is found in a broad range of natural communities (e.g. forests, wetlands, grasslands, and alvars), and is known to occur in four separate regional populations in Ontario. The Recovery Strategy for the Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) in Canada identifies critical habitat for the species in a number of areas, including two national parks.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to subsection 58(2) of the Species at Risk Act, that 90 days after the date of publication of this notice, subsection 58(1) of the Act will apply to the critical habitat of the Massasauga, as identified in the recovery strategy for that species that is included in the Species at Risk Public Registry, that is located within Georgian Bay Islands National Park of Canada and within Fathom Five National Marine Park of Canada, the boundaries of which are described in Schedule 1 to the Canada National Parks Act.