Massasauga Rattlesnake Research

well, as some of you know, i recently had the pleasure of going out in the field to help with a research project that basically has to do with the effects of prescribed burns on massasauga populations. in case you aren't familiar with the eastern massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus), they are a small rattlesnake that inhabits wetlands in the upper great lakes region and they've been on the decline for quite some time. i'd be happy to go more into detail if anyone wants, but since we're all visually oriented i'll just get some pictures up for now. :)

matt tubing one of the males:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../2/rattle3.jpg

one of the females:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../2/rattle4.jpg

yes, they are hard to spot!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../2/rattle2.jpg

and live in some crazy places!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../2/rattle1.jpg

all in all, it was some very hard work. but i loved every minute of it and will be going back out as soon as i can... thanks for looking.

and one more pic, this guy was crossing the road as we were leaving:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../2/rattle6.jpg

Nice pics! Thanks for sharing. :)

damn that looks like it was a trek and a half. Was it all through the crazy brush like that?

This may seem a stupid question but what signal were you tracking with that antenna? Surely the snakes aren't wearing collars.

Pit tagged?

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Originally Posted by Patrick Long

damn that looks like it was a trek and a half. Was it all through the crazy brush like that?

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A Yeti could stand among the cat tails and blend right in.

thanks guys. honestly, yes - most of the terrain was that rough. the one site had been burned this year so most of that was pretty easy. the rest was poison sumac and dense brush.
anyway, the animals we were radio tracking were ones that matt had found earlier last month. they've been fitted with surgically implanted radio transmitters about the width of a AAA battery and about half as long. they don't harm the snakes and will be removed before the end of the summer.

Looks like a cool day :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dsirkle

This may seem a stupid question but what signal were you tracking with that antenna? Surely the snakes aren't wearing collars.

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Oh you silly!

From the people who brought you the infamous snake leash
http://www.snakewalker.com/images/florking2close.jpg

They also offer the brand new snake collar! For those times when you need to track your lost snake! :salute:

http://www.snakewalker.com/images/snake_collar.jpg

All images copyright D.S. Boys Company LLC

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kzooherpetoculturist

thanks guys. honestly, yes - most of the terrain was that rough. the one site had been burned this year so most of that was pretty easy. the rest was poison sumac and dense brush.
anyway, the animals we were radio tracking were ones that matt had found earlier last month. they've been fitted with surgically implanted radio transmitters about the width of a AAA battery and about half as long. they don't harm the snakes and will be removed before the end of the summer.

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I had no idea that transmitters are implanted in snakes like that. Of course everyone is familiar with radio collars and ear tags on mammals. That is interesting to learn.

yep, and the ones that are too small for the transmitter are pit tagged, like pat mentioned.

Aww... no one even mentioned he usefullness of a snake collar. :(

I just did a Google search on "Rattlesnake Michigan" and learned a good deal more about how studies are conducted on them. I have seen rattlesnakes only a couple of times in my 56 years in Michigan, both times on the banks of the Ausable River. The same frequency of sighting is true for me with wolves and badgers. I've seen many bear and elk in comparison to the aforementioned animals and many have never seen them here. Rattlesnakes are rare indeed and you are fortunate to be able to participate in this study. :gj:

yeah, its a combo of them needing such specific habitat and the fact that they're so hard to see... unless they're basking on a cool morning, you'll rarely see them in the open.

That snake collar/leash is WHACK!!!!!!!

Very cool stuff!!! Don't know if I mentioned to you, but I got to go out a couple times with Dave Hardy in SE AZ to track blacktailed rattlesnakes. It is SO much more fun going herping when you KNOW you are going to find some. I haven't been around any Sistrurus (except one DOA that I know I told you about) and any behavior etc. you get to see I would love to hear about. Really cool, I hope you can keep on going out with him!

thanks ben! i agree, when you know you'll see some snakes it makes it much less tedious... like fishing with a fish finder!
as far as behavioral generalizations, they're pretty laid back... they don't usually even rattle until they're in the tongs or being tubed. we only had one that struck in the two days i was out, although matt admitted he's had some close-ish calls. they're usually found at the base of hummock stands or low-lying scrub bushes in marsh areas. matt said he's noticed as well that they tend to be somewhat close to deer trails and similar features where they lie in wait for small rodents.