Occurrences

Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.

Habitat

Eastern Massasaugas have been found in a variety of wetland habitats. Populations in southern Michigan are typically associated with open wetlands, particularly prairie fens, while those in northern Michigan are known from open wetlands and lowland coniferous forests, such as cedar swamps. Some populations of Eastern Massasaugas also utilize open uplands and/or forest openings for foraging, basking, gestation and parturition (i.e., giving birth to young). Massasaugas usually hibernate below the frost line in crayfish or small mammal burrows, tree root networks or rock crevices in or along the edge of wetlands or in upland areas with presumably high water tables. Massasauga habitats generally appear to be characterized by the following: (1) open, sunny areas intermixed with shaded areas, presumably for thermoregulation; (2) presence of the water table near the surface for hibernation; and (3) variable elevations between adjoining lowland and upland habitats.

Specific Habitat Needs

Downed woody debris needed in: Bog; Coastal plain marsh; Dry northern forest; Dry sand prairie; Dry southern forest; Dry-mesic northern forest; Dry-mesic prairie; Dry-mesic southern forest; Emergent marsh; Floodplain forest; Intermittent wetland; Mesic northern forest; Mesic prairie; Mesic southern forest; Northern fen; Northern hardwood swamp; Northern shrub thicket; Northern wet meadow; Oak barrens; Oak-pine barrens; Pine barrens; Poor conifer swamp; Prairie fen; Rich conifer swamp; Southern hardwood swamp; Southern shrub-carr; Southern wet meadow; Wet prairie; Wet-mesic sand prairie; 

Snag/cavity needed in: Hardwood-conifer swamp; Mesic sand prairie; Rich tamarack swamp; 

Natural Community Types

• Bog
• Coastal fen
• Coastal plain marsh
• Dry northern forest
• Dry sand prairie
• Dry southern forest
• Dry-mesic northern forest
• Dry-mesic prairie
• Dry-mesic southern forest
• Emergent marsh
• Floodplain forest
• Hardwood-conifer swamp
• Intermittent wetland
• Mesic northern forest
• Mesic prairie
• Mesic sand prairie
• Mesic southern forest
• Northern fen
• Northern hardwood swamp
• Northern shrub thicket
• Northern wet meadow
• Oak barrens
• Oak-pine barrens
• Pine barrens
• Poor conifer swamp
• Prairie fen
• Rich conifer swamp
• Rich tamarack swamp
• Southern hardwood swamp
• Southern shrub-carr
• Southern wet meadow
• Wet prairie
• Wet-mesic sand prairie

Methodology

Management Recommendations

Protection of extant populations and suitable wetland and adjacent upland habitats is crucial for successful conservation of the Eastern Massasauga. Maintaining or restoring open habitat conditions is critical for this species. Fragmentation of suitable wetland-upland habitat complexes by roads or other barriers should be avoided or minimized. Land management practices such as timber harvesting, mowing, disking or prescribed burning should be conducted in such a manner so as to minimize the potential for adverse impacts to massasaugas (e.g., conducting management activities during the snakes’ inactive season (November through early March) or on days when snakes are less likely to be active on the surface during the active season). Protecting suitable hibernation sites also is critical. Hydrological alterations such as drawdowns should be conducted prior to or after hibernation to reduce the potential for causing winter mortality due to desiccation or freezing. Sudden and/or permanent increases or decreases in water levels during the active season also can cause adverse impacts. Education and outreach efforts to raise public awareness and understanding of the Eastern Massasauga also are critical for conserving this species. Any suspected illegal collection of Eastern Massasaugas should be reported to local authorities. Massasaugas that need to be moved or translocated should be relocated to suitable habitat as close to where snakes were found and ideally within the snake's home range and within the same wetland complex.

Active Period

Active from first week of April to fourth week of October

Breeding from second week of July to fourth week of August

Parturition from first week of August to second week of September

Survey Methods

Massasaugas typically are active between April and late October, and can be seen anytime during the active period. However, the best times to survey for this species are during spring emergence (i.e., April-mid-June) and during the mating, gestation and birthing period in mid- to late summer (i.e., late July, August and early September) for gravid females and young-of-the-year. Another survey window for this species is during fall ingress when snakes are moving to and congregating around hibernacula. Visual encounter surveys for this species consist of walking through suitable habitat and looking for snakes basking, foraging, traveling or resting under cover, particularly along the edge of open wetlands and uplands and near shrub, woody debris or other vegetative cover or cover objects. Massasauga observations should be documented with photographs and/or verified by a species expert.

Visual encounter survey during spring emergence

Survey Period: From first week of April to second week of September

Time of Day: Daytime
Cloud Cover: Overcast
Air Temperature: Above 60 degrees
Wind: Light Breeze

References

Survey References

• Casper, G.S., T.G. Anton, R.W. Hay, A.T. Holycross, R.S. King, B.A. Kingsbury, D. Mauger, C. Parent, C.A. Phillips, A. Resetar, and R.A. Seigel. 2001. Recommended standard survey protocol for the eastern massasauga, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort Snelling, MN. 9 pp.

• Karns, D.R. 1986. Field Herpetology: Methods for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles in Minnesota. Occ. Pap. No. 18. J.F. Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Technical References

• Hallock, L. A. 1990. Master's Thesis: Habitat utilization, diet and behavior of the eastern massasauga (S. c. catenatus) in southern Michigan. Dept. of Zool., Michigan State Univ., E. Lansing, MI. 31 pp. (S. c. catenatus) in southern Michigan. Dept. of Zool., Michigan State Univ., E. Lansing, MI. 31 pp.

• Harding, J.H. 1997.Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor. 378pp.

• Johnson et al. 2000. The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake: A Handbook for Land Managers. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ft. Snelling, MN 55111-4056 52 pp. + appx.

• Johnson, B. and V. Menzies, eds. 1993. Proceedings of the International Symposium and Workshop on the Conservation of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Sistrurus catenatus catenatus, May 8-9, 1992. Metro Toronto Zoo, Ontario, Canada. 136 pp.

• Johnson, G. 1995. Spatial ecology, habitat preference, and habitat management of the eastern massasauga, Sistrurus c. catenatus, in a New York weakly-minerotrophic peatland. Dissertation. SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY. 222pp.

• Lee, Y. and J. T. Legge. 2000. Special animal abstract for Sistrurus catenatus catenatus (eastern massasauga). Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI. 4 pp.

• Reinert, H. K. and W. R. Kodrich. 1982. Movements and habitat utilization by the massasauga, S. c. catenatus. J. Herpetol. 16: 162-171.

• Seigel, R. A. 1986. Ecology and conservation of an endangered rattlesnake, S. catenatus, in Missouri, U.S.A. Biol. Conserv. 35: 333-346.

• Szymanski, J. A. 1998. Status assessment for the eastern massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort Snelling, MN. 19 pp + apps.

More Information

• Sistrurus catenatus abstract