What do Massasauga's look like?
These are heavy bodied snakes, meaning they are short and thick. This quickly will separate them from many species that they may be confused with. They also have a distinct segmented rattle, and cat like pupils. Coloration is a large variable but the general appearance is a gray or grayish brown with dark blotches edged in white and spots down back and sides. These snakes live in a very specific habitat; a wetland and will only use adjacent uplands to hunt for food or relocate. |
Status: Special Concern, it is protected by the State of Michigan and is a candidate for federal listing.
Range: Entire lower Peninsula of Michigan, with the mass of the population being in the lower south-western part of Michigan. Habitat: During spring Massasauga's use open shallow wetlands or shrub swamps. They can be found in crayfish or small animal burrows which are adjacent to drier upland open shrub forest sites, which they will use during the summer. |
|