Where can you find massasauga rattlesnakes?
Ontario
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. Three subspecies are currently recognized including the nominate subspecies described here.
Where does the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake live?
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.
How many eastern massasauga rattlesnakes are left in Michigan?
We have information indicating that 267 of the historical populations still exist today. Most of those populations are in Michigan and Ontario, Canada.
How long do massasauga rattlesnakes live?
The massasauga rattlesnake lifespan in the wild is unknown but the species is known to live in captivity for 20 years.
What happens if you get bit by a Massasauga rattlesnake?
A bite from a massasauga can be very painful and is potentially life threatening. The venom of a massasauga is more toxic than that of most other rattlesnakes, but the amount it injects is relatively small compared to those snakes. Venom, typically used by snakes to kill their prey, is expensive for snakes to produce.
Where do rattlesnakes live in Canada?
Three species of rattlesnake are found in Canada: the Western rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganous) lives in the arid grasslands of British Columbia; the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridus) lives in similar habitats in Saskatchewan and Alberta; and the Eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) lives in …
What is the most venomous snake in the United States?
eastern diamondback rattlesnake
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest of its species in the world and the most venomous snake in North America.
Do water moccasins live in Michigan?
Water moccasins (cottonmouths), which are venomous, do not occur anywhere near Michigan. But both species have a fondness of water. I had a memorable close encounter with a water moccasin three years ago at Congaree National Park on the wilder side of South Carolina.
Are puff adders in Michigan?
The hognose snake, or “puff-adder,” inhabits sandy forests and open fields throughout Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, and Menominee County in the U.P. Its range in the U.S. extends from southern New England west to eastern Minnesota, south to eastern Texas, east to Florida, and north to Massachusetts.
Do massasauga rattlesnakes swim?
They tend to be either swimming in a body of water or basking very close by. They even catch their food – frogs, tadpoles, and even fish – in the water. Rattlesnakes — while they can swim — are less likely to be out on open water, and are usually found basking on rocks or in forests farther inland.
How venomous are massasauga rattlesnakes?
The venom of a massasauga is more toxic than that of most other rattlesnakes, but the amount it injects is relatively small compared to those snakes. These venom-less bites, called dry-bites, occur in about 25 percent (and possibly as high as 50 percent) of all rattlesnake bites.
What do you do if a Massasauga rattler bites you?
One quarter of all rattlesnake bites are ‘dry’ bites. Stay calm and reduce movement. Remove jewelry on the affected limb. Call emergency services (911) and get to a hospital as quickly and safely as possible.
What does massasauga rattler mean?
The name “Massasauga” comes from a Chippewa Indian word meaning “great river mouth .” This probably refers to the wet habitats preferred by the eastern and western subspecies. The venom of the Massasauga rattlesnake is hemolytic, which means it causes the breakdown of red blood cells in its victim.
What is the range of the prairie rattlesnake?
The prairie rattlesnake can be found in southwestern Saskatchewan and southeastern Alberta . In the United States, its range extends from Idaho and Montana to western Iowa to northern Mexico.
What is the eastern diamondback rattlesnake?
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake ( Crotalus adamanteus ) is a species of venomous pit vipers, found in southeastern United States of America. It is the largest rattlesnake, and the heaviest venomous snake in the Americas. There are currently no subspecies found.