How deadly is the massasauga rattlesnake?

How deadly is the massasauga rattlesnake?

A bite from a massasauga can be very painful and is potentially life threatening. But, because of the snake’s elusive and shy behavior, people rarely are bitten by them. Ontario and Michigan, the province and state with the most massasaugas, report an average of 1 to 2 bites a year.

Where are Massasauga rattlesnakes found in Ontario?

In Canada, the Massasauga is found only in Ontario, primarily along the eastern side of Georgian Bay and on the Bruce Peninsula. Two small populations are also found in the Wainfleet Bog on the northeast shore of Lake Erie and near Windsor.

Where do Massasauga rattlesnakes 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 massasauga rattlesnakes are left in the world?

We know of 558 historical populations, of which 211 have been lost and the status of 84 is uncertain – with the likelihood that many of those populations have also been lost. We have information indicating that 267 of the historical populations still exist today.

How many massasauga rattlesnakes are left?

Is it illegal to kill a rattlesnake in Indiana?

As a matter of fact, in the state of Indiana, you cannot kill, harm, ore take any snake from the wild without a permit. Those are the copperbelly water snake – a non-venomous snake – and the massasauga rattlesnake which is venomous.

What does the massasauga rattlesnake eat?

Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes eat mainly small mammals such as voles, white-footed mice, jumping mice, and shrews. They sometimes also take other snakes, frogs, birds, bird eggs, and insects, especially when they are younger and smaller.

What is the size of a massasauga rattlesnake?

DESCRIPTION: The eastern massasauga (Sisrurus catenatus) is a small to medium sized rattlesnake, with adults typically reaching lengths of approximately 18 to 30 inches. The general appearance of the eastern massasauga can vary, with some individuals having brown blotches on a gray background and others being almost completely black in color.

What is the range of a rattlesnake?

Rattlesnakes can range from one to eight feet, depending on the species (the big one is the eastern diamondback), according to the National Wildlife Federation. They are thick-bodied snakes with keeled (ridged) scales in a variety of colors and patterns.

Where are massasauga rattlesnakes found in Ontario?

Where do massasauga rattlesnakes live?

We have information indicating that 267 of the historical populations still exist today. Most of those populations are in Michigan and Ontario, Canada. New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa have fewer populations.