massasauga rattlesnake vs milk snake

Final report on the status and distribution of the eastern massasauga, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus (Rafinesque 1818), in Illinois. Seasonal movements were characterized by a general tendency to remain in or near hibernacula in the spring. Snakes, and specifically massasaugas, are a vital part of our ecosystem. When it is disturbed or encountered in open habitat, the massasauga prefers to move to a more hidden location. 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). Green anaconda females, like other snakes, generally mate with the largest and strongest male. These blotches are often described as bow-tie or butterfly-shaped. To better understand the ecology of these animals within specific locations in Pennsylvania, WPC undertook a study of movement of individual snakes over a two-year period. Like all rattlesnakes, it is a pit viper, and like all pit vipers, it is venomous. 378 pp. The rattle can break off, however, so the absence of a rattle does not indicate that a snake is not a Massasauga. With the support from and cooperation of private landowners and private foundations, WPC has managed and restored approximately 40 acres of habitat. Press ESCAPE to close. What's particularly odd is that he's out in the open, on the grass. , 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). Now is the time to introduce your male and female snakes. Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois. Fish and Wildlife Service, Green Bay, WI. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Course. Submitted by Matthew on 2014, May 17 - 08:07. Female snakes reproduce once or twice a year and depending on the species either give birth to live snakes or lay eggs. Otherwise, they rarely interact. 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. The type locality given is " on the prairies of the upper Missouri" (Valley, USA). Massasaugas breed in late-July and early-August. In Pennsylvania, the species has experienced a rapid decline largely because of habitat loss. Also, a stressed snake is more likely to protect itself by biting! During the summer months, rattlesnakes rarely travel more than 2 km from their chosen site! Photo courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Massasaugas have rattles, but they are seldom heard because their rattles are small and quiet and only used on rare occasions. Reinert, H. K. 1981. The blotches are positioned on top of the back of the rattlesnake and they do not reach down the sides of their body. Pupils are vertically elliptical. A. Measuring about 45 - 80 cm in length (1.5 - 2.6 ft), the species occupies an approximate weight of 300 - 400 grams . She should be producing eggs by this point. Commonly found predators that hunt down young Massasauga rattlers are bigger snakes like the Black Racer and the Milk snake. 1993. Snakes begin to reproduce at three to four years old. Other snake groups, especially ones in the Colubridae and Viperidae families are known to shake their tails just like a rattlesnake. 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. Status assessment for the eastern massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus). Massasaugas are grey or tan in color with a row of large rounded brown/black blotches or spots down the center of the back and three smaller rows of alternating spots down each side. Wed love it if you posted the sighting on iNaturalist and/or share it with your parks staff. Every rattlesnake will find its own hibernation site during its first winter, and many use the same site every year for the rest of their lives. Legge, J. T. and M. R. Rabe. 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. Mating occurs in the spring, summer and fall (Reinert 1981, Vogt 1981, Harding 1997). While the fox snake's markings are square or rectangular, the massasauga's markings are wider on the outsides and more narrow in the middle, like a bow tie would be, according to the history survey. 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. National Skip the Straw Day, held every February, aims to change that. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake is federally listed by the U.S. The massasauga also appears to have strong site fidelity, often returning to the same hibernation site or area each year. But do observe the shape of the head all venomous snakes have triangular or diamond-shaped heads; many non-venomous snakes such as milk snakes have longer, slimmer heads. Watersnakes, on the other hand, have more of a banding pattern. This small, stout rattlesnake is listed by the U.S. The results of the two-year inventory found only four locations with known massasauga populations. Johnson, G. 1995. There are many sustainable ways to enjoy your land while simultaneously protecting massasauga habitat. The Conservancy and the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program investigated the presence of the eastern massasauga at 63 locations in Western Pennsylvania where the snake was historically known to reside. Young rattlesnakes measure approximately nine inches long and have a yellow-tipped tail with a button rather than a fully-developed functioning rattle. Massasaugas usually are active between April and late October. Snake . Although it's venomous, the massasauga is a timid snake. Massasaugas also appear to exhibit seasonal shifts in habitat utilization. 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. 136 pp. Snakes are not social animals, so they dont really get together outside of certain contexts, like mating season. This plan was submitted to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, which is the jurisdictional agency for the species, and is being used to guide conservation work for the massasauga in Pennsylvania. Reintroduce your snakes for a few days in succession until the female looks like she has lost interest in the male. Massasaugas are secretive snakes who prefer to hide from people, but when people find massasaugas, they tend to kill these beautiful snakes out of fear, despite there being few instances of massasaugas biting humans. Habitat is consistently found in proximity to wetland soils. [8], The species S. catenatus is classified as least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 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). However, Michigan's massasauga population also has declined. A rather unusual place for a snake that normally prefers cool rocks and the forest floor. Unpublished discussion paper for Canadian Parks Service. You are more likely to be killed by bee stings or being struck by lightning than by a snake bite. The rest of their body will be trailing along below the waters surface. Today, the eastern massasauga is believed to live in only oneIllinois county Clinton County. Individuals tend to return to the same hibernation site each year (Prior 1991). Of the 17 snake species in the state, only two are venomous -- the Timber Rattlesnake and the Eastern Massasauga. Fields of forbs and low-growing grasses with an open canopy and spotty distribution of woody shrubs characterize the habitat of the massasauga in Pennsylvania. Studies to date also have found that massasaugas were not be able to survive the winter when moved to a new area outside their home range presumably because they were not able to find suitable hibernation sites. 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massasauga rattlesnake vs milk snake