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.
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.
Colin Vestrand
long time keeper and breeder of carpet pythons and other snakes...
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.
Colin Vestrand
long time keeper and breeder of carpet pythons and other snakes...
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