Stowaway
A leisurely paddle in Muskoka is rudely interrupted by a northern water snake.
EPISODE NOTES
TRANSCRIPT
The only thing better than paddling a beautiful lake on a gorgeous day… is doing it with a friend.
I had pulled my canoe ashore and this little Northern Water Snake must have stowed away while I was hiking. I didn’t notice him until I was on my way back fighting an awful headwind and he casually started making his way up and down the canoe.
Northern water snakes are these beautiful critters which can grow up to 110 centimetres or more than three-and-a-half feet. They do most of their hunting at the shoreline but they can swim out several kilometres into the water and dive three meters below the surface.
Hot tip if you’re trying to rescue one from your canoe - even at this age, when they feel they have no other options, their bite reflex is ready to go. They’re not gonna do any actual damage, but… I’d suggest using a branch to maneuver them into something you can carry them in rather than trying to pick them up with your bare hands… like an idiot.
And, bonus tip: if you’re gonna be bushwhacking on crown land… maybe consider long pants.