Massasauga Rattlesnake

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Kathryn Farr-Simon - Science Leader | Wetlands Lab - 2012-07-25

You may have heard about the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake found in Blind River on July 21, 2012.  This area was part of the historic range of Eastern Massasauga, and therefore it is not surprising to find a few individuals there today. To learn more about the Eastern Massasauga, check out this post by Kathryn! (Bruce Doran, Staff Scientist)

Did you know that Ontario has it's very own species of rattlesnake? It’s called a Massasauga Rattlesnake. The Massasauga is small as far as rattlesnakes go, and it is not typically an agressive species. Being able to identify the Massasauga is a good idea though, just in case you are ever in an area where Massasaugas are found.

The Massasauga is the only type of rattlesnake in Ontario. It can be found in four areas of the province: the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, the Bruce Peninsula, a small pocket near Windsor, and a small pocket near Wainfleet Bog in Port Colborne. Sometimes individual snakes are found in other areas of the province, but this isn't common.

You can identify this snake is by the markings and its body shape. The markings are in the shape of bowties, and run down their backs. They have a short, wide body with distinct head and neck. To learn more about our resident rattler, please check out the video below!

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