The Collection

The live animals at Scales Nature Park are the core of our programming.  There are usually about 300 animals of around 60 species in the centre.  A large proportion of the collection are Canadian reptiles and amphibians, making this the most complete live collection of Canadian species to be found in the entire country! Having these animals on hand provides unparalleled opportunities for educational programming.  Some examples of the animals include: the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Ontario’s only venomous snake; Black Rat Snakes, Canada’s longest snake (and an Endangered species), and the unusual Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle. 

Scales Nature Park also houses a number of exotic reptiles and amphibians.  Many of these are animals that have been donated by their owners or seized by agencies, and they are not well-suited to be pets due to their large size and challenging care requirements.  We also feature some examples of reptiles that are excellent choices for those who would like a reptile as a pet.  We strongly encourage prospective reptile owners to learn about these animals before bringing them home from a pet store, and feel it is important to provide this information as part of our educational efforts.  You can read more about this in "Reptiles as Pets".  Examples of the exotic species at Scales Nature Park include: Burmese Pythons, Green Iguanas, Boa Constrictors, Corn Snakes, Bearded Dragons, and Blue-tongued Skinks.