Reptiles and amphibians

Eastern painted turtle

The Eastern painted turtle is the most-seen turtle in Kejimkujik. It is quite often found basking in the sun on logs and stumps along the Mersey River.

Common snapping turtle

Kejimkujik is the only national park and historic site in the Maritimes to have a documented nesting population of snapping turtles. These turtles usually only leave the water during the nesting season, in late June and early July. Their eggs hatch in late September and early October.

Blanding’s Turtle

The Blanding’s turtle, Kejimkujik’s rarest turtle, is easily identified. It grows to a medium size (about 22 cm long) and has a distinctive dark green dome-shaped shell covered with yellow flecks. The underside of its chin and neck are bright yellow. The Blanding’s turtle inhabits vegetated coves, slow-flowing brooks and still waters. A few beaches are its preferred nesting areas.

"Species at Risk"

In 2005, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) uplisted the Nova Scotia populations of the Blanding's turtle from "Threatened" to "Endangered." It is therefore considered a “Species at Risk.”

Maritime garter snake and the Northern red-bellied snake

The two most common species are the Maritime garter snake and the Northern red-bellied snake, the latter of which gets its name from its distinctive red-orange belly.

Northern ring-necked snake and the Eastern smooth green snake

The Northern ring-necked snake and the Eastern smooth green snake are less common.

Eastern ribbonsnake

The Eastern ribbonsnake is Kejimkujik’s most elusive snake. It can be identified by three bright yellow stripes that run along the length of its dark body. In Nova Scotia populations, a caramel-brown stripe separates the side stripes and its underbelly. The snake is semi-aquatic and ranges in size from 46 to 86 centimetres. It is also referred to as the Northern ribbonsnake.

The Eastern ribbonsnake has two distinct populations in Canada: one in southern Ontario and Quebec, and another in Nova Scotia. The latter is referred to as the Atlantic population. The Atlantic population is limited to a small range of southwestern Nova Scotia, within the Mersey, Medway, and LaHave River watersheds.

"Species at Risk"

Since 2002, the Atlantic population of the Eastern ribbonsnake has been considered a threatened species, according to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

Salamanders

Four of the five species of salamanders occurring in Nova Scotia, have been found within Kejimkujik.

Four species of salamanders found within Kejimkujik:

• the yellow-spotted salamander
• the red-spotted newt
• the Eastern redback salamander
• the four-toed salamander

Of these, the Four-toed salamander is very rare.

The blue-spotted salamander has been found in both Annapolis and Queens counties, but not within Kejimkujik.

Frogs and toads

Nova Scotia is home to seven species of frogs and one toad.

Frog and toad species found within Kejimkujik:

• the Northern Spring Peeper
• the American bullfrog
• the Northern green frog
• the mink frog
• the Northern leopard frog
• the wood frog
• the pickerel frog
• the American toad

Green Frogs are common along waterways, Bullfrogs are regularly heard calling in areas of lush aquatics, and Pickerel frogs hunt the reedy lakeshores.