This is the only venomous snake species in the state of Michigan, which means the Upper Peninsula is void of any venomous snakes Fun fact: This is the smallest rattlesnake … Only one species of venomous snake resides in Michigan—the Eastern massasauga rattlesnake. Venomous snakes are not pets, and are not for beginners. The massasauga feeds on mice and other rodents, and helps control their populations. If any creatures ever needed better public relations, it would be snakes. A link has been sent to your friend's email address. The reclusive rattler, seldom spotted by even lifelong Michiganders, is often killed when encountered because of the fear a rattling tail and venom-dripping fangs can elicit. The snake's rattle sounds different from that of a western diamondback rattlesnake's — common from movies and TV. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). While Michigan documents them in most of the Lower Peninsula counties, their population levels widely differ according to county. Only one of them, the Eastern Massasauga , is venomous. Large color photos and text with easy-to-follow symbols for habitat, temperament, reproduction and distribution make this book useful for all ages. (Photo: Martha Thierry/Detroit Free Press). But biologists say the snake actually seeks to avoid confrontation. (Photo: Martha Thierry/Detroit Free Press). Instead, they are one of very few types of snakes that give birth to live offspring, Where you'll find them: Most of the Lower Peninsula and the southern tip of the Upper Peninsula, though they are most common in the western and northern Lower Peninsula, mostly in sandy woodland areas, Status: Common but declining in numbers due to an irrational fear by humans who will kill the snake, Fun fact: This snake will play dead if threatened, Where you'll find them: In the Lower Peninsula, inhabiting wetlands during the spring and drier areas in the summer, Status: A species of special concern, protected by state law, Can they harm you? It prefers wetland habitats. Fish and Wildlife Service to specify certain protections, whereas an endangered species listing comes with more blanket restrictions mandated by law, said Scott Hicks, supervisor of the service's East Lansing field office. Snake species. That's when they seem aggressive," said Bruce Kingsbury, director of the Environmental Resources Center at Indiana University-Purdue University Ft. Wayne, who has studied the massasauga in Michigan. The snake can reach a little more than 3 feet and it has a rattle on the tail. Where you'll find them: The black rat snake is found in the southern lower peninsula, typically living in or near woodlands, often near water, Status: Rare and protected by state law as a Michigan DNR species of special concern, Can they harm you? "Anytime you have paved roads, a farmer's field, a residential area, they will be barriers to the snake, and it will turn around and head back from where it came.". ", Michigan's venomous snake is now federally protected. The eastern massasauga is the scariest snake you've probably never seen. They rarely bite but may have slightly poisonous saliva, Fun fact: Sometimes they feast on smaller snakes, Where you'll find them: Throughout lower Michigan in grassy areas, though they are rare in the southern Lower Peninsula, Can they harm you? © 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. No, the snakes rarely bite and are non-venomous, Fun fact: They are shy and like to hide under objects or below the ground, Where you'll find them: This species can be spotted in the eastern and southern Lower Peninsula, typically inhabiting moist area like meadows, marshes and the edges of lakes, Can they harm you? But the proposed protections for the massasauga are largely the same as they would be if it were designated as endangered, he said. That leads to the small populations failing to mix, making the massasauga vulnerable to inbreeding and the reproductive and physiological problems that can come with it, Kingsbury said. Remember that this rattle snake will only bite you if it feels threatened, so if you do come across one, keep your distance as it’s not there to cause harm. Historically, they could be found in a variety of wetlands and nearby upland woods throughout the lower peninsula. In addition to federal protection, it could probably use a good public relations agent, too. To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs. According to the Michigan Society of Herpetologists, the snake's name comes from the Chippewa meaning "great river mouth." Thanks to Man vs. Venomous snakes in Arizona: New Mexican Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake. Check out our list of each snake in the state. Michigan's venomous snake is now federally protected. 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. This juvenile exhibits one of the most visible marks of a poisonous snake -- eye pupils that are vertical slits. You will need to register before adding a comment. Roads and other obstacles also prevent them from moving between wetland and upland habitats, which isolates remaining populations, leading to their demise. It rarely bites and is non-venomous, Fun fact: They like to chow down on insects. This nine-inch Mississauga rattlesnake, the only poisonous snake native to Michigan, was spotted swimming across a small stream in Kalkaska County. Which Michigan endangered species are you? The massasauga's is "more like an insect buzzing," Kennedy said. In Michigan, it's found only in the Lower Peninsula. The United States has about 21 species of venomous snakes, which include 16 species of rattlesnakes, two species of coral snakes, 1 species of cottonmouth (or water moccasin), and two species of copperhead.At least one species of venomous snake is found in every state except Hawaii and Alaska.. Arizona Ridge-nosed … But of the 187 populations of eastern massasauga rattlesnakes believed to be in Michigan, 110 of the groups are considered as doing excellent, good or fair; 35 state populations of the snake are designated as fair to poor, and 42 populations may already be wiped out, he said. Fish and Wildlife Service. By Aurora Abraham. It may not be captured or killed. Specific numbers are hard to come by, as the snake is difficult to track, said Dan Kennedy, endangered species coordinator for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. They will bite if threatened but are non-venomous, Fun fact: These snakes do not lay eggs. Michigan's only venomous snake soon out of hibernation Eastern Massasauga is a threatened species, sightings are unlikely. Michigan DNR/Courtesy photoThe massasauga rattlesnake is Michigan’s only venomous snake. Soon after, he determined the snake was an Eastern massasauga rattlesnake – Michigan’s only venomous snake and rattlesnake, according to the state Department of … Michigan, one of the fifty United States, is home to two types of lizards, nineteen types of snakes and eleven types of turtles, all members of the class Reptilia. ► Related: Get to know 8 endangered species in Michigan. The Fish and Wildlife Service identified the snake as a candidate for federal Endangered Species Act protection in 1982. That is one species out of the eighteen snake species that call Michigan home. Due to its decreasing numbers, the Black Rat Snake is protected by Michigan law. (Photo: Eric Sharp,Detroit Free Press). For more information on the snakes of Michigan, visit the Michigan DNR website. "You can stand right next to them, and they don't move. The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes … There are two venomous snakes in Michigan, the Massauga Rattle Snake and the Western Cottonmouth Snake (also called, water moccasin, black moccasin, blunt-tail moccasin, northern cottonmouth moccasin, stump-tail water moccasin, western cottonmouth moccasin, cotton-mouthed snake). (Spoiler alert: Most of these guys are harmless.). You do not need a Facebook profile to participate. While they might bite if threatened, these snakes are not venomous, Fun fact: They have light-colored bellies and will shake their tails when they feel threatened, Where you'll find them: Brown snakes are found throughout the Lower Peninsula and the southern tip of the Upper Peninsula in many areas both residential and rural, Can they harm you? These snakes are shy and try to avoid humans. The Eastern Massasauga Rattelesnake is the only venomous snake of the 18 species of snake that reside in the state. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. All rights reserved (About Us). They are associated with water and forest areas. While this species will try to avoid confrontation, they will bite if in danger and they are venomous. They are just hoping they will be left alone.". The eastern massasauga is primarily associated with wetland habitats but some populations also utilize adjacent upland habitats for parts of its life history. If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them. The threatened-species designation allows the U.S. Tit. As mentioned in our list, the massasauga rattlesnake is Michigans only poisonous snake, so you can relax now by knowing that Michigan isn’t filled with hundreds of venomous snakes. ", Where you'll find them: Southern Lower Peninsula in damp meadows, vacant lots and open woodlands, Can they harm you? The snakes don't want to be in somebody's yard or garden. Yes. Certain land-use activities may require a permit under the Endangered Species Act and mitigation that could include enhancement of snake habitat elsewhere, Hicks said. To be precise, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources lists 17 separate species you can find within our state. These snakes are defined in the Ohio Revised Code 935.01 as elapids, vipers, boomslangs, twig snakes, asps and many non-venomous constrictor snakes. "Michigan is what we would call the stronghold of the species, at least in the United States," Kingsbury said. What we find, even when they are bumped or stepped on, they still don't strike. It is protected as a federally threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Draining wetlands for farms, roads and urban development has eliminated much of the habitat massasaugas use for food and shelter. 29, §4-107, it is illegal to keep any wildlife either for commercial purposes or as a pet without a permit. The shy, nonaggressive, eastern massasauga rattlesnake has been waiting for needed protection for more than 30 years, said Elise Bennett, a Center for Biological Diversity attorney who works to protect imperiled reptiles and amphibians. It is a small- to medium-sized snake, with adult lengths averaging 2 to 3 feet. DNR officials seek to keep private specific maps of rattlesnake population locations, as the snake is frequently captured and sold as a pet or killed, Kennedy said. Ever wonder which animal in your area is the most fatally dangerous? “The destruction of wetlands and surrounding uplands in the Midwest by urban and agricultural sprawl is leaving the eastern massasauga with few places to live,” she said in a release. Michigan's lone venomous snake, the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, has received federal protection as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. It is listed as “endangered,” “threatened” or a “species of special concern” in every state or province in which it lives. "The snakes don't travel as far as other animals do from habitat patch to habitat patch," he said. Michigan Venomous Snakes Michigan only has one species of venomous snake. Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in. "Snakes do play an important role in our ecosystem," Kennedy said. The Northern Water Snake is NOT VENOMOUS. So, you basically need to correctly identify this one to stay out of danger. Michigan's lone venomous snake, the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, has received federal protection as a threatened species under the Endangered Species … Scary Michigan spiders: Brown recluse, 4 others to watch for Important, too, is changing a mind-set of wanting to kill the rattlesnake on sight. This relatively rare rattlesnake dwells in wetlands, including bogs, swamps and riverine woodlands, during most of the year. Three subspecies are currently recognized including the nominate subspecies described here. Michigan's only venomous snake is a rare sight for most state residents. It is Michigan's only venomous snake, and one of only two rattlesnake species that occur in the Great Lakes region. Butler's Garter SnakeThis snake is very similar to the eastern garter and it can be easy to get them … Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta) Description: A large shiny black snake with a white chin … No. Michigan's only venomous snake is a rare sight for most state residents. They have been vilified since the earliest of Bible tales, and their overall reputation hasn’t improved markedly since. Historically, they could be found in a variety of wetlands and nearby upland woods throughout the lower peninsula. The snake is typically found in wetlands and nearby upland woods in 10 U.S. states and Ontario. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) is a unique and fascinating part of Michigan's natural heritage. Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) are Michigan’s only venomous snakes. Accidents with venomous snakes are always expensive and often fatal. "They are usually in locations where people won't want to be: It's wet; it's hard to walk through. Reptiles are found throughout Michigan, although the only venomous species, the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, is … Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only. A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Field guide to Michigan's 18 species of snakes, including the state's only venomous snake--Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. "You should consider yourself lucky to have seen one — they are so rare, most people will never see one," Kingsbury said. Please be polite. Arizona. “These long-awaited Endangered Species Act protections can save the massasauga from extinction by saving the habitat it needs to survive.”. And while a bite from a massasauga "is not a fun experience," it can be treated and people are not likely to die from it if treatment is quickly administered, he said. Studying Michigan's massasaugas, the state's venomous rattler. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. They rarely bite and are non-venomous, Fun fact: This snake flattens its body when threatened, Species: Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis, Where you'll find them: In wetland habitats throughout the Lower Peninsula, Where you'll find them: Throughout the Lower Peninsula and the eastern Upper Peninsula, mostly near bodies of water, Status: While not a threatened species, human aggression has eliminated water snakes from many areas, according to the Michigan DNR, Fun fact: They can have up to 48 babies per litter, Where you'll find them: Southern Lower Peninsula near water, Can they harm you? Oklahoma Under OKLA. STAT. By BOB GWIZDZ Michigan Department of Natural Resources. These non-venomous snakes are harmless to humans, Fun fact: This is the largest snake you will find in Michigan, Where you'll find them: Blue Racer snakes live throughout most of Michigan's Lower Peninsula and the southern tip of the Upper Peninsula, inhabiting a variety of areas from open woods to meadows, marshes and other areas, Status: Once a common species, the number of Blue Racer snakes is decreasing, Can they harm you? Both Michigan snake species are protected by Michigan law. The designation follows a landmark settlement agreement between Fish and Wildlife and the nonprofit environmental advocacy organization Center for Biological Diversity that will expedite protection decisions for 757 species. © 2021 www.freep.com. People often end up killing other, non-venomous snakes after mistaking them for a rattlesnake. There have been no human deaths from a massasauga rattlesnake bite in at least 100 years, Kingsbury said. July 27, 2017. The protection restricts "take" of the snake, which can mean killing or collecting, as well as incidental take, or activities that can indirectly kill, harm, injure or harass snakes or damage their habitat. They are hoping you just don't see them. While they can bite, it is unlikely and they are non-venomous, Fun fact: Earthworms are a favorite food for the Butler's Garter Snake, Where you'll find them: Everywhere, including urban areas, according to the Michigan DNR, Status: This is the most common snake in the state, Can they harm you? Many Michigan fox snakes are killed by humans. Common Types of Snakes Found in Michigan The US state of Michigan is home to 19 snake species, out of which only one is poisonous ― the Eastern massasauga rattlesnake. Michigan's venomous snake is now federally protected. Unlikely to bite and non-venomous, Fun fact: Their diet largely consists of crayfish, Species: Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata, Where you'll find them: Throughout Michigan, in fields and woods, Fun fact: They like to hide beneath objects in trash dumps, Where you'll find them: Throughout Michigan but most common on the state's larger islands, typically living in moist woodlands, Can they harm you? Get to know 8 endangered species in Michigan, COVID-19 vaccines spoiled on way to Michigan, Mayor Duggan on Trump freeing Kilpatrick: 'This ... he got right', Kilpatrick clemency: The difference between pardon and commutation, Passengers 'attack' Spirit Airlines agents at Metro Airport, GOP replacing board member who certified vote, Trump called for Kilpatrick's release — but stuck him with $4.7M tab, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. DNR warning Michigan residents to be on the lookout for the only venomous rattlesnake in Michigan "When they are found out in the open — on a road, on a trail — they are afraid, and they are trying to scare us off. Massasauga are capable of injecting a highly toxic venom through their bites. Like all rattlesnakes, it is a pit viper, and like all pit vipers, it is venomous. Venomous snakes use modified saliva, and venom, delivered through highly specialized teeth, such as hollow fangs, for the purpose of prey immobilization and self-defense. The Eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) is the only venomous snake in Michigan. It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban. ► Quiz: Which Michigan endangered species are you? Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about, The eastern massasauga rattlesnake is now listed as threatened, according to the U.S. All rights reserved. David Kenyon The chances are very good that if you see a snake, you won't ever see it again.". In fact, massasauga venom is considered more potent than most other rattlesnake venom. "Let's try, where appropriate, to manage and preserve them. … Read or Share this story: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/09/29/poisonous-snake-massasauga/91282316/. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today. (Photo: Martha Thierry/Detroit Free Press). Snakes are considerably more common in the lower peninsula than the upper, because the LP has more of the wetlands, swamps, and marshes that make up their ideal habitats. 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