Are … The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake: A Handbook for Land Managers. Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake species information on herpman.com. Range. The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus, is the only venomous snake still found in Ontario. Young rattlesnakes measure approximately nine inches long and have a yellow-tipped tail with a “button” rather than a fully-developed functioning rattle. The snake is listed as threatened because of loss of population throughout its range. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake averages 20 to 30 inches in length. Massasauga rattlesnake. What would be the consequences of its extinction? An important component of our ecosystems, the massasauga is a relatively small, thick-bodied rattlesnake. Believe it or not, before 1975 there was a bounty (a fee paid to people who kill "pest" species) in Wisconsin on rattlesnakes, paying up to 5 dollars a tail. The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, the only venomous snake in the province of Ontario. A pair of long fangs at the front of the mouth are hollow and resemble short, curved hypodermic needles. Despite an extensive distribution, relatively few and substantially isolated populations of Massasauga are threatened by loss and degradation of habitat, road mortality, and deliberate extermination. Fish and Wildlife Service protects the eastern massasauga rattlesnake under the Endangered Species Act. 2000. This is Ontario’s only venomous snake. Massasaugas are found across eastern North America from New York and Ontario southwest to Texas and New Mexico. Its seems unlikely that any snakes can survive our winters, but apparently they do. It is grey to brownish with saddle- or butterfly-shaped darker brown blotches on the back that alternate with smaller blotches on the sides. in length, although longer ones have been recorded. It is characterized by the presence of a heat sensitive pit between the eye and the nostril, a segmented rattle at the tip of the tail, a vertical eye pupil and keeled scales. In a project managed by the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Species Survival Plan® (SSP) and Lincoln Park Zoo, more than 20 zoos, the Edward Lowe Foundation, Northern Illinois University, and several wildlife agencies are studying a healthy massasauga population in Michigan. The Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) and Western Massasauga (S. c. tergeminus) are found in the eastern and midwestern portions of the species range. From old western movies where 6-foot-long rattlers rear up to strike a cowboy on horseback to outrageous folktales of rattlesnakes chasing humans, a lot of bad press has been directed at rattlesnakes. The heat sensitive pits between the eyes and the nostrils are unique to pit vipers. The subspecies is a candidate for federal listing. The eastern Massasauga rattlesnake is the largest subspecies, measuring up to 30 inches (76 cm) in length. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) is a candidate for federal listing as a threatened or endangered Distinct Population Segment (DPS) (U.S. FWS 2003). If disturbed it may shake its rattle. Each time the skin is shed a new segment is added to the rattle. Fish and Wildlife Service says that most populations are isolated pockets scattered throughout the Midwest. The U.S. What is the range of the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake? DESCRIPTION: The eastern massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus) is a small to medium sized rattlesnake, with adults typically reaching lengths of approxi-mately 18 to 30 inches. The U.S. The dorsal saddles are the largest and are dark brown or black with a black outline. The eastern massasauga may take shelter in crayfish burrows or other underground cavities. Hibernation site selection by eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) near their northern range limit. Stocky with a well-developed rattle, the Eastern Massasauga is brownish gray with rounded dark blotches on its body. Some people … Few other animal groups are as persecuted as rattlesnakes. Michigan's only venomous snake is a rare sight for most state residents. Venom is injected into the snake's victims through these teeth. The rattle is developed as the skin is shed. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) is a species of venomous pit viper in the family Viperidae. Journal of Herpetology 40:66-73. Although the massasauga rattlesnake is thought to be in decline throughout much of its range, only the eastern subspecies (Sistrurus c. catenatus) is currently under Massasaugas once had a wider range and were far more common in southern Ontario near the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Huron. ... Massasauga Rattlesnake. The Eastern Massasauga is a pygmy rattlesnake; most adults are only 60–75 cm long. Similarly, the average home range length of Massasaugas on the northern Bruce Peninsula has been documented to be 1.2 km, with a maximum home range length of 2.3 km (Harvey unpublished data 2012). Explore other vipers and compare them with the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. Occurrence maps on miherpatlas.org; Michigan DNR Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake 60-Second Snakes Video ; Life History & Michigan History. Description: The Eastern Massasauga is a small rattlesnake with a ground color of gray, tan, or golden tan. Small to medium rattlesnake that unlike most rattlesnakes, has 9 enlarged scales on top of the head. 2011. www.dnr.state.wi.us. The snake is light gray with a color pattern that includes a series of large, dark brown and black, middorsal blotches and two to three rows of lateral blotches. Eastern Massasauga, Page 1 State Distribution Sistrurus catenatus catenatus Rafinesque Eastern Massasauga Photo by Joseph Sage Minnesota and eastern Iowa and south to southern Illinois, central Indiana, southern Ohio, and northwestern Pennsylvania (Conant and Collins 1991, Harding 1997). Cryptic patterns and coloration serve to break up the shape of the eastern massasauga rattlesnake to better disguise it in vegetation, rocks, leaves, and shadows. 2011). It rarely exceeds 75 cm (29 in.) The eastern massasauga has been declining over the past three decades due to loss and fragmentation of its wetland habitat. Much like anyone in the northern hemisphere on the first warm Saturday of the year, each spring the Eastern massasauga rattlesnake (EMR) emerges from the holes that it hibernates in all winter ready for some sun and a good meal to kick-start its growth and reproduction for the year. The Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) is the only venomous snake in Ontario. NOTE: New data of the occurrence and distribution of this species are being collected constantly and some of the information in the pamphlet may be outdated. These populations … In 1975 the bounty was lifted and the massasauga was placed on the Wisconsin Endangered and Threatened Species List. The only venomous snake in Ontario, the massasauga rattlesnake resides mainly in the Eastern Georgian Bay area and the Bruce Peninsula .2 The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) considers the snake to be threatened and it is protected under federal and provincial laws. All subspecies have a triangular head, pits near their nostrils and a rattle on the tip of their tail. Michigan, the only state in which it is not considered endangered, lists it as "special concern". There seems to be a lot of confusion on just where this snake lives and where it does not. Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) This species of the Massasauga rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in Michigan that has vertical pupils, heat sensing pits and a beautifully blotched outline. A dark bar extends from eye to rear of the jaw. Below the saddles there is another large spot of the same color and outline. A series of spots and saddles are arranged down the back and sides. Because it is such a shy creature, it can be hard for biologists to find. The Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is a medium sized snake (50 to 76 cm) with a thick body.The head is diamond shaped with white stripes along the jaw. Although often confused with other banded or blotched snakes (such as the eastern foxsnake), the massasauga’s distinctive rattle sets it apart. Unit 5: The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Teacher Resource GROUP WORK AND RESEARCH MOTIVATORS What can we do to preserve the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake and its natural habitat? It may be seen basking on grass, near crayfish burrows or in other open locations. Average home range lengths for Massasaugas in an eastern Georgian Bay population were found to be 1.2 km and 1.1 km for males and females respectively (Rouse et al. The eastern massasauga is listed as an endangered species in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri (also considered extirpated), New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Although the venom is potent, this snake's small size and retiring habits make it a minor risk to humans. The eastern massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus ... Because populations are declining throughout its range, many states have given the massasauga protective status. The Massasauga rattlesnake is the smallest of the four kinds of rattlesnakes that have been recorded for Canada. Johnson et al. In reality most rattlesnakes present very little threat to humans. Although the massasauga rattlesnake is thought to be in decline throughout much of its range, If you do see a rattler near Pittsburgh, it may be an eastern massasauga. The belly is black with scattered light markings. These snakes love the forested Allegheny and the Appalachian Mountains which stretch into the state. The western subspecies has an average length of 26 inches (66 cm), while the desert subspecies typically reaches a length of 21 inches (53 cm). This snake is very shy and … It was afforded special concern status in Minnesota in 1984, and was reclassified as endangered in 1996 after targeted surveys in the early 1990s failed to locate the species. Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is a State Endangered Species and a Federally Threatened Species. The eastern massasauga can remain undetected with the help of its pattern, even at close range. The scales are keeled (ridged down the centre), which gives the snake a rough appearance. Its stubby tail has a brown, segmented rattle. The body colour is grey to brown with dark brown or black blotches along its sides. The general appearance of the eastern massasauga can vary, with some indi-viduals having brown blotches on a gray background and others being almost completely black in color. The massasauga is native to the lower peninsula of Michigan and several other Great Lakes states. U.S. Harvey, D. S., and P. J. Weatherhead. If threatened, the species is most likely to rattle or retreat under cover. The Massasauga inhabits just four areas in Ontario: eastern Georgian Bay area, the Bruce Peninsula, the Wainfleet bog, and the Ojibway Prairie Complex in Windsor. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) is a candidate for federal listing as a threatened or endangered Distinct Population Segment (DPS) (U.S. FWS 2003). Why is it important to save the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake? Wikimedia Commons:USFWSmidwest. If you do see one, count yourself lucky. Despite its fearsome reputation, the massasauga rattlesnake is shy and docile, and avoids human contact whenever possible. Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. tail has approximately 3 to 6 dark brown or black rings and tipped with a small rattle. 2006. A button at the tip of the tail is present at birth. When shaken, the rattle produces a high-pitched buzzing noise that warns animals and people to move away. The massasauga is one of the two venomous snakes in Wisconsin, the timber rattlesnake is the other. The timber rattlesnake’s range still extends into Pennsylvania, even if it is shrinking. Rattlesnake bites are uncommon, but potentially devastating. The eastern massasauga is a small, thick-bodied rattlesnake that lives in shallow wetlands and adjacent uplands in portions of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Ontario. You can also find them around Harrisburg, but not Pittsburgh. 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