A rare and endangered rattlesnake has been spotted in Ohio.
An eastern Massasauga rattlesnake was captured during the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s annual snake survey last month by Huron County Wildlife Officer Matthew D. Smith, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said in a Facebook post. .
Here’s what you need to know about the snake and its place in the state.
All about the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake in Ohio
One of three venomous snakes native to Ohio, the eastern massasauga is rare in Ohio and only found in a few select locations across the state, said Kristin Stanford, wildlife diversity coordinator with the Ohio Division of Wildlife. in an email on Wednesday. It is very unlikely that one will encounter one in the wild.
The snake has historically been recorded in 30 Ohio counties, but has been seen in only nine since 1976, according to the Reptiles of Ohio Field Guide produced by the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
Also known as the “swamp rattler” and “black rattler,” the snake is considered “very sluggish,” according to the Ohio Field Guide, and rarely bites unless “thoroughly provoked.” Its bite, while containing a highly toxic venom, is rarely fatal to a healthy adult because a typical bite does not deliver enough venom to be lethal.
The snake was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2016, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, “due to significant population reductions, primarily due to habitat loss.”
Ohio Snake Conservancy:Rattlesnake Found in Ohio Proposed for Threatened Species List
Where was the massasauga rattlesnake found?
Stanford said the ODNR does not typically release the location of individual snakes. In this case, however, she said it is “commonly known” that there is a population of these snakes in the Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, south of the town of Upper Sandusky and about 65 miles north-northwest of Columbus. These snakes are well studied by researchers, she said, and are the focus of an annual population survey to assess the health of the species.
The snake found last month was measured to determine its growth and released, Stanford said. Killdeer Plains is one of several study sites where the snake population has been surveyed for a variety of reasons.
How to Identify the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
The snake is small — less than 34 inches, according to Ohio State University’s Massasauga Research project. The Ohio Field Guide calls the snake “sturdy” and puts its length between 18 and 24 inches.
The typical Massasauga rattlesnake has a gray, tan, yellow or brown base color, according to the state of Ohio. The upper part of the body is covered with brown spots that stretch along the length of the snake. Its belly is black with occasional white or yellow markings.
Its head often has a narrow, looped white band surrounding a thicker dark brown band. In Ohio, some of the snakes are all black.
What is the range and habitat of eastern massasauga rattlesnakes?
The massasauga is found in the northern Midwest of the United States, as well as in Ontario, Canada, according to US Fish and Wildlife.
Most of its population is found in Michigan, according to the US Fish and Wildlife’s interactive map. However, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa still have “robust populations,” according to Fish and Wildlife, but those populations grow sparse and isolated toward the edge of the snake’s range.
Eastern massaugas can be found in shallow wetlands and surrounding upland areas, according to Fish and Wildlife. According to the State of Ohio, the species is threatened by its grassy habitat becoming forested, as well as invasive species, which can invade grasslands and alter the habitats required by massasaugas and their prey.
Snakes eat mice and other small rodents, such as, according to US Fish and Wildlife. They sometimes eat frogs and other snakes.
What to do if you find an eastern massasauga rattlesnake
While the snake rarely bites, it is still venomous and should be treated with respect. Don’t provoke him.
Stanford recommends observing the animal from a distance. She said that more often than not, just your presence will cause the snake to go away on its own, and you’re unlikely to see it again.
If you spot one, the massasauga research project at Ohio State wants to know. He asks for photos (if you have them) and viewing details to be emailed to share via his contact page.
Rattlesnakes native to Ohio
Along with the eastern massauga, Ohio has two other native rattlesnakes, both found primarily in southern Ohio, the eastern copper snake and the timber snake.
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