Highlighting Michigan’s Massasauga Rattlesnake

Map showing snake counties (brown) and a photo of a
Massasauga rattler
illustration courtesy Dave Richey Outdoors / I65DESIGN+MEDIA ©2012

CADILLAC - No one has an accurate count on how many Massasauga Rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) live in Michigan, but one thing is well known: We have the lions share of the population of this, the state's only venomous snake.

All the other populations that stretch from Iowa and Missouri up through Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and a small number in Ontario, make up the world's population.

"These snakes are very scarce, and everywhere else, they are considered  "threatened" or "endangered," said Michigan State University doctoral candidate Rebecca Christoffel of East Lansing, who was speaking to some Michigan Outdoor Writers. "I've studied these little rattlers for some years. They are harder to find than most wildlife in this state or any other area."

Currently the Massasuaga rattlesnake is listed in Michigan under Special Concern and is a candidate for federal listing.

These small rattlesnakes are shy and reclusive, and are seldom seen

This snake is seen so seldom that there is much that most state residents do not know about these pit vipers. This much is known: the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) is quite small, averaging 18.5-30 inches in length. They are thick-bodied, and gray or light brown with large, light-edged, chocolate-brown saddle-shaped blotches on the back with smaller dark spots along the sides. It has a blunt tipped tail with a segmented rattle at the end.

They are found throughout Michigan's Lower Peninsula and Lake Huron's Bois Blanc Island off Cheboygan. None are found in the Upper Peninsula, and wherever they are found, the land is mostly wetlands that include bogs, fens, marshes, sedge meadows, swamps and other wetlands that include prairies and savannas. See the above map for counties where known rattlesnake sightings have been documented.

Periods when Massasaugas are active

Massasaugas are active from April through October, and often are seen basking in the sun. Personally, I've seen only one live Massasauga rattler other than the one shown in the photo published today.

"Many people are frightened of these small rattlesnakes," Christoffel said, "but they are quite shy and will try to hide from view to avoid detection. They generally strike only when threatened, and most bites come when people try to handle them. They shake their small rattles, but the sound isn't as distinct as with a larger rattlesnake. Their rattling sounds more like the faint buzzing of an insect."

She said that perhaps 25 to 50 percent of massasauga snakebites are "dry," meaning the snake does not release venom. She added that from  1999-2005, from three to eight statewide snakebites were reported to Michigan Poison Control.

The chances of getting bitten by a Massasauga rattlesnake are very remote. There are certain precautions one can take, and that is to recognize where these snakes may be found. Usually, in the wild, they are found on or near humps of ground; near root wads of fallen trees; and near trash dumped in the woods by ignorant people.

"Learn to recognize possible rattlesnake habitat," she said. "The ground can be moist or sandy and dry, but there is normally some woody debris on the ground. Piles of fallen tree limbs, leafy areas, sandy hills and marginally wet areas around marsh hummocks are key locations for these snakes."

She also offers these tips to prevent getting bitten by these short-fanged snakes.

Tips to remember when in possible snake country

• Stay on the trail or the beaten path while walking in potential snake habitat.
• Always wear close-toed boots or shoes and long pants. Use a flashlight when walking after dark.
• Watch where you place your hands and feet. Do not reach into brush, rocks or dark places where it's impossible to see.
• Stop moving and determine the snake's location if you hear a rattle or buzzing sound. Step away slowly and give the snake the opportunity to move away.
• Never pick up a Massasauga rattlesnake or any other snake you cannot positively identify. Trying to pick up a snake is the most common cause of snakebites.
• Never chase, harass or threaten a snake. This is the second most common cause of snakebites. Remember, Michigan's Massasaugas, while not endangered or threatened, are protected (of Special Concern; candidate for federal listing). It is illegal to bother them.
• A Massasauga rattlesnake can strike a distance of half to two-thirds of its body length. A two-foot snake can strike 12 to about 16 inches.
• Keep pets on a leash at all times when in wild places. Besides the remote possibility of being bitten, a dog can run off to chase a fawn or even an adult deer. Keep them under control at all times or leave them behind.
• Four other snake species often are improperly misidentified as a Massasauga rattlesnake. Learn the many differences between the
  • Eastern Milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum) [photo.info]
  • Eastern Hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos) [photo.info]
  • Northern Water snake (Nerodia sipedon) [photo.info]
  • Eastern Fox snake (Elaphe vulpina and Elaphe gloydi) [photo.info]

The Massasauga rattlesnake is a rather timid animal, and will go out of its way to avoid humans. Michigan has the largest number of these small rattlesnakes, but the population is a relative thing. These snakes are not plentiful even in the best habitat, and they deserve the protection afforded them.

For more information on massasauga rattlesnakes, go to the Michigan DNR -Massasauga website.