Report your Reptile Sightings!

Help us learn more about reptiles at risk in British Columbia by reporting your sightings!

We are interested in sightings of both live and dead reptiles.  While unfortunate, road-killed reptiles can provide valuable information about distribution and abundance.

To report a sighting, click on the link below:

BC Ministry of Environment Wildlife Sighting Form

To complete the Wildlife Sighting Form, you'll need the following information:

• Contact information.  Let us know who found the animal and how we may contact you. Sometimes the Ministry may be interested in finding out more about a particular sighting.
• Habitat.  Take note of the type of habitat you observed the animal in.  Was it in a forest, grassland, or on a rocky cliff?  Beside a road, in a ditch, or by a creek?  Maybe you found it under some construction material in your backyard, or (gulp) your cat brought it home.  Biologists studying these species can use this information to help guide their own searches! 
• Location.  Be as precise as you can.  GPS locations, map coordinates, and street locations all are useful.
• Time and Date.  Record when you sighted the animal.
• Species.  Record what species you observed (to the best of your ability), and what evidence you used to identify it.  If possible, take a photograph.  Record approximate size, behaviour, and anything else that you think might be useful such as injuries.  The weather at the time of your sighting also can be helpful (temperature, cloud cover, or precipitation). If the animal is dead, if possible record the cause of death.

The Sightings Form requires species and sub-species codes.  Just use the search button (outlined in a red circle below) to find the code you need - if you're not sure of the species or sub-species, indicate that in the comments section! The same symbol is used throughout the form to allow you to choose codes for different sections of the form.

Other Contact Information

If you have a rattlesnake on your property and you are concerned it may harm you or your family, call the Conservation Officer 24 hour Wildlife Sightings hotline:

1-800-663-9453
(1-800-663-WILD)
 

The operators of the hotline have a variety of resources they can use to advise and help you.

If you come across an injured or trapped reptile, you can locate the nearest Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre at the following site:

Wildlife Rehabilitator's Network of British Columbia