The Rattlesnake Ramble

"I hate snakes, Jock!" as exclaimed by Indiana Jones in 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, is a quote that often comes to mind when I encounter individuals with a fear of snakes. As the interpretation coordinator and a proud field naturalist working at Grasslands National Park (GNP), this type of visitor encounter is a common occurrence for me. I begin most of my guided hikes by asking attendees how they feel about snakes before informing them that seeing a wild Prairie Rattlesnake on the hike and in GNP is a real possibility. Depending on the group, this information can help to start a brief dialogue on different feelings about snakes and the importance of respecting them, their homes, and their ongoing and relatable quest for survival. I don’t use the word respect lightly because that’s the bare minimum that all wildlife deserves, and a healthy amount of respect keeps everyone (humans and animals) safe inside and outside of protected areas.

As the only national park in Canada solely dedicated to protecting native prairie, GNP represents a unique ecosystem home to a plethora of other plants and animals found almost nowhere else in Canada. Temperate grasslands, like GNP’s native mixed-grass prairie, are the most endangered ecosystem on the planet and researchers and conservationists alike have been sounding the alarm of their rapid decline for years. Many wildlife enthusiasts and adventurers make the trip to southwest Saskatchewan to catch a glimpse of Plains Bison, the only population of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs in Canada, and the charismatic Burrowing Owl. For those with a particular affinity to all things scaled and slimy, GNP boasts the title of being one of the only places in Canada where you’ll find Eastern Yellow-bellied Racers and Greater Short-horned Lizards. Other wildlife highlights of the herpetological variety include Prairie Rattlesnake, Bullsnake, Plains Gartersnake, Smooth Greensnake, Plains Hog-nosed Snake, Western Painted Turtle, Boreal Chorus Frog, Northern Leopard Frog, Plains Spadefoot Toad, and Western Tiger Salamander.

Circling back to Prairie Rattlesnakes, they are the most common reptile species observed in the park on iNaturalist and are still seriously misunderstood creatures. Classic films like the aforementioned Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), and contemporary movies like Anaconda (2025) can stigmatize certain animals, in this case snakes, for those who never have the chance to actually observe them in nature. Despite pop culture reputation as heartless predators that are dangerous to humans, snakes do in fact have a heart and are some of the most docile animals you might encounter in a native prairie ecosystem. Prairie Rattlesnakes in particular would much rather slither away from any potential threat, but when they can’t, they usually default to their excellent communication skills. The hollow keratinous segments at the end of their tail vibrate together, creating their eponymous rattle sound. What other secretive animal does such a good job of letting you know when you’re getting too close? And yet, for such an accomplished and well-spoken animal, Prairie Rattlesnake survival is threatened by habitat destruction, road mortality, and human persecution. These threats have meant that the Prairie Rattlesnake has been designated a conservation status of Special Concern in Canada.

Like all national parks in Canada, Grasslands has two primary goals – to protect natural ecosystems and showcase protected areas for the benefit of all Canadians. With these two goals in mind, my colleagues and I created the Rattlesnake Ramble in 2024. The program provides park visitors with an up close and intimate opportunity to learn more about Prairie Rattlesnakes by taking them on a guided hike to one of the most well-known snake hibernacula in the park. We knew we wanted to use this program to connect visitors with prairie reptiles beyond a surface level of show-and-tell. To go beneath the frost line, we enlisted the help of former GNP biologist and prairie reptile and amphibian expert, Dr. Nick Cairns. In addition to providing double the Nick power, Dr. Cairns knows Grasslands National Park and its resident reptiles and amphibians like the back of his hand.

With some unusually warm autumn weather and Nick leading the way, we led park visitors out to one of the largest Rattlesnake hibernacula in Grasslands over Thanksgiving weekend in 2024. A major highlight for me was meeting a pair of visitors who specifically registered for the program to tackle their fear of snakes. Confronting your fear of an animal by going to an area that hosts hundreds, possibly thousands, of individuals was a bold move, but I think it paid off for them. Many visitors who expressed fear or cautionary curiosity were surprised to see the docile and nonaggressive nature of Prairie Rattlesnakes with their own eyes. Many if not all our snake sightings that day – Prairie Rattlesnakes and Eastern Yellow-bellied Racers – all demonstrated that their fear of us outweighed any fear we might have of them. Both species showcased their ability to head the opposite direction of us and disappear into hibernacula crevices.

After the success of 2024, it was a no-brainer to run the Rattlesnake Ramble again in 2025. With Dr. Nick back and a few more park staff helping, we again helped local and travelling park visitors experience Grasslands through the lidless eyes of a Prairie Rattlesnake. The 2025 outing was also great for Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer sightings with one individual periscoping – raising its head bolt upright – in front of the whole group before slithering away. Although the event was a little late in the season for Greater Short-horned Lizards, we saw some tracks and evidence of overwintering burrows – "D" shaped holes in the south-facing Bearpaw Shale substrate expertly pointed out by Dr. Nick. I’m proud to say that the Rattlesnake Ramble is one of the most popular programs at GNP, and watching people tackle their fears and learn about native prairie and some of the historically misunderstood animals that call it home is extremely rewarding.

If you are interested in seeing native prairie for yourself visit Grasslands National Park and join us for the next Rattlesnake Ramble on September 25, 26, and 27, 2026. Further details can be found at https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/sk/grasslands/activ/decouverte-tours1/serpent-snake.

*Note: All photos in this blog were taken with a telephoto lens at a respectful and safe distance.