The Western Rattlesnake and Great Basin Gopher Snake are considered “species at risk” in the Okanagan because of loss of numbers and habitat. Many are killed unintentionally on roads and some are killed intentionally out of fear. Did you also know that Canada’s rarest snake is the Night Snake which lives in the south Okanagan?

See Spotlight on Snakes of the South Okanagan Similkameen for more information.

“Snake Smart” workshops, ID posters and pamphlets produced by OSCA are designed to familiarize agricultural workers and people living in snake habitat with locally common snakes including the Rubber Boa, Racer, Great Basin Gopher Snake, Garter Snake, and Western Rattlesnake (also called Northern Pacific Rattlesnake).
The following snake identification and safety cards can be downloaded at no charge:

Snake Identification PDF (English)
Snake Identification PDF (French)
Snake Identification PDF (Spanish)
Snake Identification PDF (Punjabi)

Guide to Safely Relocating Rattlesnakes (English)
Guide to Safely Relocating Rattlesnakes (Spanish)
Guide to Safely Relocating Rattlesnakes (Punjabi)

Rattlesnakes are timid snakes that spend most of the day seeking shade and shelter. If they are out in an area of human activity they can be moved safely by using snake tongs, a snake hook or a long-handled tool to move them into a tall container. Download the Hazard Assessment and Snake Relocation Guideline by clicking here.