Biologist discovers rare snail near Woodstock, Ont.
Species at Risk Biologist with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, Scott Gillingwater is very passionate about his work.
So much so, he and his wife, purchased 55 acres of wetlands and woodland near Woodstock in 2019 to ensure it would be protected for years to come.
Gillingwater lives and works on the property known as Snake Woods Nature Preserve (SWNP), which is provincially protected property as an area of natural scientific interest and also as significant wetland.
Last year, while doing research in the SWNP forest, he discovered something rare.
"It was actually by chance find, we were doing salamander surveys and I noticed an interesting looking snail,” said Gillingwater as he walked down a tree-lined forest holding the shell of a shagreen snail.
"The shagreen can be identified by these three teeth like objects on the opening of the shell,” explained Gillingwater.
The observation was first made in April 2023, corrected a year later via iNaturalist, a mobile app that connected Gillingwater with international experts who specialize in Canadian snails.
The shagreen snail is endangered both provincially and federally.
Shagreen snails were found in Snake Woods Nature Preserve near Woodstock, Ont. (Reta Ismail/CTV News London)"We kind of look at the shagreen as the canary in the coalmine, of that indicator species, that if something is impacting the most sensitive species, how long is it going to take before more resilient species to start to be impacted?” said Gillingwater.
Snake Woods Nature Preserve could be home to the last remaining mainland population of the rare snail in Canada, as their population has dwindled due to habitat loss.
Gillingwater said they have documented over 1700 species of plants and animals on the SWNP.
“Including some exceptionally rare moths, there’s one called Reversed Haploa Moth, very, very rare in Ontario. We get some rare migratory birds that do some stopovers on the property, number of plants, as well as we have good populations of some of our reptiles amphibians that are found in this region,” explained Gillingwater.
He continues to conduct research on his property and hopes one day to leave it all behind as a legacy for years to come.
"When it's time for us to go, hopefully donate that property to ensure it's protected forever,” said Gillingwater.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6973608.1721691615!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
2nd woman found dead in English Bay: Vancouver police
For the second time in as many days, a woman's body was found near Vancouver's shoreline Monday.
2 Albertans accused of threatening to kill Trudeau, Freeland, Singh
Men from Edmonton and Calgary are accused of threatening to kill some of Canada's top government leaders.
Athletes show off stylish and expensive team clothing for the 2024 Olympic Games
Canadian athletes attempting to reach the podium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will also be looking fashionable for the entire world to see.
Harris has support of enough Democratic delegates to become party's presidential nominee: AP survey
Vice-President Kamala Harris has secured the support of enough Democratic delegates to become her party's nominee against Republican Donald Trump, according to an Associated Press survey taken in the aftermath of President Joe Biden's decision to drop his bid for re-election.
Four suicides in New Zealand linked to Ontario's Kenneth Law
New Zealand's coroner has ruled that four of its citizens died after ordering products from an Ontario man who is facing murder charges for selling poisonous substances.
Toronto woman charged with voyeurism after taking 'intimate' photos during massage: police
A Toronto woman who allegedly took 'intimate' photos of an individual who was getting a massage has been charged with voyeurism, police say.
IN PICTURES Here's what Calgary's new event centre 'Scotia Place' will look like
The name of Calgary’s new event centre was unveiled on Monday. The arena will be called Scotia Place.
Harris steps into the limelight. And the coconut trees and memes have followed
If you're trying to get up to speed on Vice President Kamala Harris' swift emergence as Democrats' possible nominee this fall, you really need to know your memes.
These are the four leading vice-presidential picks for Kamala Harris' campaign
No one knows the importance of selecting the right running mate better than Vice President Kamala Harris.