In Pennsylvania, only four of 19 historic populations still exist, making it a critically imperiled endangered species. Pupils are vertically elliptical. 1994. Female snakes reproduce once or twice a year and depending on the species either give birth to live snakes or lay eggs. The only time they live together is during the winter; there are some species, like garter snakes, that hibernate in communal burrows. [13][14][15] Michigan, the only state in which it is not considered endangered, lists it as "special concern". Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and listed as endangered by the State of Ohio. After envenomation, the rattlesnake is able to withdraw from the dangers of sharp-toothed prey animals until they are subdued and even partially digested by the action of the venom. Amphibians and reptiles of the Great Lakes region. Mating occurs in the spring, summer and fall (Reinert 1981, Vogt 1981, Harding 1997). Natural predators for the massasauga, particularly the eggs and young, include hawks, skunks, raccoons, and foxes (Vogt 1981). Harding, J. H. 1997. Massasaugas are a threatened species and are extremely rare to see. Fish and Wildlife Service as a federally threatened species. A little-known fact about Massasaugas is that they are very loyal to their homes. If you cant see the tail (and for the handful of stealth Massasaugas that have lost their rattle and now have tails that end in a stub), look for some of the other field marks that distinguish the snake from other species (field marks are characteristics that help to identify birds, butterflies, and even snakes!). Champaign, IL 61820. The eastern massasauga is primarily associated with wetland habitats but some populations also utilize adjacent upland habitats for parts of its life history. Is it normal for cats to stay up all night. This seasonal shift in habitat use appears to vary regionally and among populations (Szymanski 1998). The Massasauga, often known as the Massasauga Rattlesnake, has a scientific name of Sistrurus catenatus or Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus, depending on whether it is the Eastern or Western variety. [8][9], The Native American word, "massasauga", means "great river-mouth" in the Ojibwe language and was probably given to describe grasslands surrounding the river deltas in Ojibwe country. [7][19] It is found only near the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, the Bruce Peninsula, the North Shore of Lake Huron,[20] Wainfleet Bog, and Ojibway Prairie. | Privacy Policy | Land Acknowledgement Statement | Email the Web Administrator. Information gathered from our studies provided the framework for a comprehensive conservation and management plan for the eastern massasauga, which includes habitat management recommendations. Natural history of amphibians and reptiles of Wisconsin. Plan your day so that you don't miss the many special animal experiences available throughout the park! How to Make the Best Natural Bug Spray Recipe with Kombucha Vinegar, 50+ Things To Do in French River and Lake Nipissing Areas, Share on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & Google+ via Buffer, Walking in French River on Pioneer Trail to Lac Barbotte Lookout, Sleeping With Tarantulas at Picaflor Research Centre, Hiking the History Loop on Etienne Trail: Samuel de Champlain Park. Rattlesnake venom also has medicinal benefits for humans and is used to help treat complications such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis and polio. The eastern massasauga may take shelter in craysh burrows or other underground cavities. [23] A 20032005 survey showed only four locations in two counties with confirmed populations. 300-400 g. Length. Midl. In all, 51 free-ranging individuals 17 gravid (pregnant) females, 7 non-gravid females, 12 males and 15 juveniles were equipped with temperature sensitive radio transmitters and monitored every 48 hours. 17540 W. Laraway Road,Joliet, IL 60433 The massasauga rattlesnake is the smallest of the three venomous snakes found in New York State, the other two being the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) and the copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix).Derived from the Chippewa language, "massasauga" translates to "great river-mouth" and probably refers to the snake's preference for wet habitats, including riverine bottomlands. Reclaimed massasauga habitat must be maintained periodically to keep forest encroachment in check. While the massasauga did at one time live in Will County, it has not been seen or recorded in the county since the return of the century. Within the last decade, eastern massasaugas have been reported from about 150 sites in 50 counties. Conserv. Of course, no sudden movements. The rest of their body will be trailing along below the waters surface. The females give birth to litters of 5 to 20 live young in August or early September in mammal burrows or fallen logs in the uplands (Vogt 1981, Harding 1997). When it is disturbed or encountered in open habitat, the massasauga prefers to move to a more hidden location. In mid-October, snakes returned back to their hibernacula in lowland hardwood floodplain. 815-727-8700 Fish and Wildlife Service. Massasauga Rattlesnakes are a species at risk, and your sightings help our conservation work. It is important to note, however, that a statewide, systematic field survey for this species has not been conducted. 3), although terminal segments can be lost as a result of injury or irregular shedding. You are more likely to be killed by bee stings or being struck by lightning than by a snake bite. Therefore, massasaugas may still be present in areas that lack recent, as well as historical, records. The rattle can break off, however, so the absence of a rattle does not indicate that a snake is not a Massasauga. And he's just a little guy. The type locality given is " on the prairies of the upper Missouri" (Valley, USA). King (1997) reported mean home ranges of approximately 5 to 7 acres for neonates and gravid females, 17 acres for non-gravid females and 398 acres for males. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In very young Massasaugas, the rattle is a simple structure, yellow in color (Fig. Americans use millions of straws a day, and many of them end up as litter, eventually making their way into ours lakes and rivers. 222pp. Their dark patterning is visible on the top of their body, but you will also notice that it spreads farther and reaches down their sides too. [10], S. catenatus is found in North America from Ontario, Canada and western New York southwest to southeastern Arizona in the United States and northern Tamaulipas, Mexico. The draining of wetlands for farms, roads, homes and urban expansion is negatively impacting the eastern massasauga rattlesnakes native habitat. Common names of the massasauga include: massasauga rattlesnake, massasauga rattler (Ontario), black massasauga, black rattler, black snapper, gray rattlesnake (Iowa), little grey rattlesnake (Canada), muck rattler, prairie rattlesnake, spotted rattler, swamp rattler, vbora de cascabel (Mexico), dwarf prairie rattlesnake, eastern massasauga great adder, ground rattlesnake, Kirtland's rattlesnake, little black rattlesnake, Michigan point rattler (Michigan), prairie massasauga, rattlesnake, small prairie rattlesnake, snapper, swamp massasauga, swamp rattlesnake, and triple-spotted rattlesnake. Sign your little one up for classes today! Seigel, R. A. Reinert, H. K. and W. R. Kodrich. Like all rattlesnakes, it is a pit viper and is venomous . Keep this in mind: Massasauga Rattlesnakes are very shy. To find out more, please see the updated Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Aquatic Connectivity and Species Passage, Dirt & Gravel Road Design and Implementation, Colcom Foundation Revolving Fund for Local Land Trusts, Sustainable Land Uses with Massasauga Habitat Conservation, A Landowners Guide to the Eastern Massasauga in Pennsylvania: Management & Protection., Learn more about PFBC Regional Habitat Biologists, Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP), Establishing/seeding prairie grasses, wildflowers and other native plants. The pairing of the snakelets parents was recommended by the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Species Survival Plan (SSP), a program coordinated by the AZA to maintain genetic diversity of threatened and endangered species in human care. U.S. And even if you are convinced the snake you are seeing is venomous, none of the venomous snakes in Illinois are aggressive and will not come after you,IDNR reports. 36 pp. We were also able to determine the massasaugas seasonal movements and habitat preferences. Now is the time to introduce your male and female snakes. Young snakes mainly eat amphibians and invertebrates. Breeding takes place in August and September. The next time you order a drink from a restaurant, think twice before you unwrap the straw. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, MI. And there's a slight difference in the facial structures (the Massasauga's heat pits) that would put this guy in the milk snake camp. [2], According to Campbell and Lamar (2004), a population also exists in southeastern Colorado that is morphologically somewhat intermediate between S. c. tergeminus and S. c. Frogs also constitute an important part of their diet: Ruthven (1928) mentioned that in Michigan they made up the main portion of their diet. 1999. 607 East Peabody Drive First off, look at the snake's tail end. Measuring about 45 - 80 cm in length (1.5 - 2.6 ft), the species occupies an approximate weight of 300 - 400 grams . 2), it is not always feasible to rely on the rattle. Also, massasaugas are highly cryptic and difficult to observe in its natural habitat. Figuring it out isnt hard. They do rattle their tails against fallen leaves and underbrush in an attempt to imitate the rattlesnake, and hopefully scare off potential predators, but dont be fooled. This snake is most easily identified by its rattle, which is made up of interlocking segments that are added one by one when the snake sheds its skin, one to three times a year. The snake that most often appears in homes and yards is the common garter snake, which is harmless. The massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is a rattlesnake species found in midwestern North America from southern Ontario to northern Mexico and parts of the United States in between. Although he shakes his tail when approached, a Massasauga Rattler of this size should be old enough for his tail rattle to be readily visible - and milk snakes (who don't have a visible rattle at any age) have been known to mimic the Massasauga's tail movements. Fox snakes and some other snakes do sometimes shake their tails when threatened, and this can make a rattling sound if the snake is sitting among leaves or other vegetation or if it has been captured and is in a box, for example. Also known as "swamp rattlers," they spend the vast majority of their time in year-round wetlands hunting their primary prey, mice. It is one of only three venomous snakes in Pennsylvania. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake averages 20 to 30 inches in length. Massasaugas feed primarily on small mammals such as voles, moles, jumping mice, and shrews. The female snake and the male snake may stay joined for as long as one day, though it is usually over in about an hour. Nat. An adult snake may have seven or more rattle segments (Fig. The massasauga is one of two rattlesnakes that are native to Ohio. Young massasaugas are born with a single rattle segment (or button) on their tails. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and 100% of your donation is tax-deductible as allowed by law. Adding to the problem is that many snake species look alike, and some venomous snakes look similar to nonvenomous ones. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake ( Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) is a unique and fascinating part of Michigan's natural heritage. The female gives normally birth during the month of August or early September. After emerging from hibernation in April, the massasauga begins feeding on small rodents and sunning in lowland areas for about a month. Visitors are concerned because they know rattlesnakes are venomous, and often assume that any snake they see must be one. Like all rattlesnakes, it is a pit viper and is venomous. Individuals may spend up to several weeks in the wetlands near their hibernation sites before moving to their summer habitats (Johnson 1995). They camouflage well, and dont want anything to do with people. The sight of a slitheringsnake causes many people to react in surprise or even fear. Reintroduce your snakes for a few days in succession until the female looks like she has lost interest in the male. This species tends to hibernate singly or in small groups of two or three (Johnson and Menzies 1993). If she lies down and looks relaxed near the male, she is ready. What's particularly odd is that he's out in the open, on the grass. Like all pit vipers, a female Massasauga rattlesnake is oviparous and maintains a gestation period of three and a half months. About the Natural Community Classification, Gray or grayish brown with dark blotches edged in white and spots down back and sides, 18.5-30 inches long; record 39.5 inches long, Pit on each side of head between eye and nostril, Tail thick, squarish; does not taper to a point like all other snakes in Michigan, Does not always rattle a warning; relies on pattern and remaining motionless to go undetected, Light gray or tan with brown or reddish-brown, black-bordered blotches running down back, Young similar to adults but blotches brighter red, Often Y- or V-shaped light marking on top of neck, Belly white with black checkerboard pattern, Eastern subspecies in Southeast Lower Peninsula only; western subspecies in Upper Peninsula only, Yellowish to light brown with black or dark brown blotches; head reddish or orangish, Belly yellow with black checkboard pattern, Most have dark spots/blotches on yellowish, reddish or brown background, but some solid black, brown or olive, When threatened, spreads neck to display two prominent black eyespots on neck and hisses; may turn over and play dead, Belly yellow-gray with greenish gray pattern, Light brown with dark brown or blackish blotches; older individuals may appear uniformly black, Belly cream with irregular rows of reddish or blackish half moon crescents. 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