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. And he's just a little guy. The average seasonal home range for the massasauga in Western Pennsylvania is 3.8 acres. Nineteen locations provided doubtful evidence for the support of populations and 38 were considered extirpated. [21] It is becoming rare in Canada due to persecution and loss of habitat and is designated as "threatened" by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC),[22] as well as the Committee on the Status of Species-at-risk in Ontario (COSSARO). It is a small- to medium-sized snake, with adult lengths averaging 2 to 3 feet. They tend to hang out in damper, wetland habitats. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has been a leading partner in eastern massasauga conservation and research in the region. 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). MORE : Love Island: Jonnys lewd comments about Tyla are aired for Camilla to hear is it all over? During the summer months, rattlesnakes rarely travel more than 2 km from their chosen site! The other snake's tails will appear pointed rather than blunt like the . Instead, snap a pic if you can from a safe distance. The primary reasons for the massasauga's decline in Michigan and rangewide are habitat loss and fragmentation, human persecution or indiscriminant killing, and illegal collection. There are many sustainable ways to enjoy your land while simultaneously protecting massasauga habitat. The massasauga is the state's only venomous snake and rattlesnake, according to Dan Kennedy, the DNR's endangered species coordinator. In 2013, a survey was conducted to determine their population, and they were only found in two counties in western Pennsylvania. However, by far the biggest threat to eastern massasauga rattlesnakes is humans, who have relentlessly pursued and killed these snakes . This species tends to hibernate singly or in small groups of two or three (Johnson and Menzies 1993). Kubatko, L.S. : Fox snake vs. eastern massasauga rattlesnake, to the Friends of the Forest Preserve Foundation. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake ( Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) is a unique and fascinating part of Michigan's natural heritage. The goal of the eastern massasauga recovery plan is to stop the species' decline and ensure its long-term survival. Fish and Wildlife Service as a federally threatened species. Since the early 1900s damming, road building, surface mining and urbanization have destroyed large amounts of Pennsylvanias massasauga habitat. These two snakes have similar colorings and patterns, leading people to confuse them for each other, according to the Illinois Natural History Survey. A fox snake's head is often reddish brown or copper-colored, sometimesleading it to be confused with another venomous snake, the copperhead, according to the University of Michigan. Each time they shed their skin, a new segment is added to the rattle while older segments become weak and break off. Many of the wetlands, wet meadows, and prairies have been turned into human settlement and farmland. Americans use millions of straws a day, and many of them end up as litter, eventually making their way into ours lakes and rivers. And if you need further proof, the milk snakes spots have a dark outline; the rattlers dont. of Calif. Press, Berkeley. Fish and Wildlife Service. Like all rattlesnakes, it is a pit viper, and like all pit vipers, it is venomous. Massasaugas now mainly occur in disjunct, isolated populations and have been afforded some level of legal protection in every state or province within its range. Watersnakes can have a lot more colour variation, sometimes they are almost completely black. The blotches are positioned on top of the back of the rattlesnake and they do not reach down the sides of their body. A male desert Massasauga rattlesnake associates romance during courtship by rubbing its chin on the forehead and neck of the female while looping its tail over hers as an affectionate gesture. 1999. Massasaugas also are commonly killed by humans. They have heat-sensing pits on each side of their smallish heads, their scales are keeled, and their anal scales are single. The dramatic decline of the eastern massasauga is alarming. The massasauga is one of two rattlesnakes that are native to Ohio. In very young Massasaugas, the rattle is a simple structure, yellow in color (Fig. Adding to the problem is that many snake species look alike, and some venomous snakes look similar to nonvenomous ones. If you can see the end of the tail, that should help you decide which species of snake it is. Massasaugas are small snakes with thick bodies, heart-shaped heads and vertical pupils. Forests and wetlands are also being invaded by invasive plant species; this reduces prey populations. Submitted by Matthew on 2014, May 16 - 20:44. The eastern massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) is considered an umbrella species, meaning its protection in turn impacts other species sharing all or some of the same environmental requirements. The timber rattlesnake also has a uniformly black tail, whereas the massasauga has 4 to 7 black rings on the tail. The Fox Snake lacks a rattle. Keep this in mind: Massasauga Rattlesnakes are very shy. 205 pp. If this habitat loss remains unchecked, it will likely result in the extirpation of the remaining populations. If you own land with suitable habitat for massasauga in Pennsylvania and are interested in protection and/or management for the species, please contact Matt Marusiak at 814-776-1114 or mmarusiak@paconserve.org for more information. Michigan poison control centers report about 16 massasauga bites in a typical year. Natural history of amphibians and reptiles of Wisconsin. Final report on the status and distribution of the eastern massasauga, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus (Rafinesque 1818), in Illinois. King, R. S. 1997. It is rare to spot the massasauga snake in its native habitat, as the snakes are secretive and prefer to stay out of plain sight; this causes them to be mistaken for other snakes such as the eastern fox snake, eastern milk snake and northern water snake. In this case, the colubrid is the mimic and the rattlesnake is the model. The head is distinct and set off from the body by a narrow neck. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Moore, J. Legge, J. T. 1996. J. of Wildl. The patterning that snakes have helps them camouflage from predators. The blotches are positioned on top of the back of the rattlesnake and they do not reach down the sides of their body. In the spring, fall, and winter, they are found in wetlands and wet grasslands. Nat. Master's Thesis: Habitat utilization, diet and behavior of the eastern massasauga (S. c. catenatus) in southern Michigan. Also, massasaugas are highly cryptic and difficult to observe in its natural habitat. Reclaimed massasauga habitat must be maintained periodically to keep forest encroachment in check. S. c. catenatus is rather shy and avoids humans when it can. Female massasaugas reach sexual maturity at three or four years of age, after which they have been reported to reproduce both annually and biennially in different parts of their range (Reinert 1981, Seigel 1986, Harding 1997). The eastern massasauga may be found in the northern two-thirds of Illinois. 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. 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. Unpublished discussion paper for Canadian Parks Service. Its tail has several dark . , Columbus Zoo and Aquarium All Rights Reserved, Additional Member Benefits and Reciprocal List, Educational Resources for Schools and Scouts, Character Ambassador Appearance Request Form, Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Species Survival Plan (SSP). You are more likely to be killed by bee stings or being struck by lightning than by a snake bite. Historically, this has been due to human activity and more recently primarily from natural forest succession. Massasaugas have not been reported from Branch, Ingham, Shiawassee, Macomb, Huron, Clare, Oscoda, Montmorency and Emmet counties since prior to 1980 (some since the early 1900's). The drastic decline of the massasauga is alarming, but you can make a lasting difference by helping us protect them. With this achievement, the Columbus Zoo now joins the ranks of only five facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to have successfully bred this subspecies of massasauga rattlesnake. Johnson, G. 1995. What is the eastern massasauga rattlesnake? Within the last decade, eastern massasaugas have been reported from about 150 sites in 50 counties. Harding, J. H. 1997. Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois. Young massasaugas are born with a single rattle segment (or button) on their tails. Found in our backyard today. possibly a Massasauga rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus, but far enough from their normal range that he may be just an oddly coloured milk snake Lampropeltis triangulum. Finally, the heads of the two species are quite different, but getting close enough to see these details is not recommended. Like all rattlesnakes, it is a pit viper and is venomous . Measure her willingness to breed by reading her body language. This is because their venom glands are stored at the back of their heads, in their cheeks, which makes that part wider, emphasizing their small neck. eastern massasauga rattlesnake through research and PIT tagging (micro-chipping). 1972. Mature snakes eat mainly small rodents like mice, squirrels, and shrews. After emerging from hibernation in April, the massasauga begins feeding on small rodents and sunning in lowland areas for about a month. Although the venom is highly toxic, fatalities are very uncommon because the species' short fangs can inject only a small volume (Klauber 1972). They are also native to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada. Spring emergence typically starts in late March and early April as groundwater levels rise and ground temperature approaches air temperature (Harding 1997, Szymanski 1998). Pregnant females will choose sparsely vegetated dry areas to bask until they give birth to their young in August or early September. It is a small- to medium-sized snake, with adult lengths averaging 2 to 3 feet. eastern milk snake and northern water snake. The snake that most often appears in homes and yards is the common garter snake, which is harmless. What's particularly odd is that he's out in the open, on the grass. While massasaugas are venomous, they have a very mild-mannered temperament and rarely strike unless handled. 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