Massasauga

The massasauga is a small pit viper found in scattered, isolated populations across the Great Lakes basin and central United States. Its patchy distribution and reliance on wetland habitat have made it a species of conservation concern throughout much of its range.

It is one of the smallest rattlesnake species, rarely exceeding 0.8 m, and its rattle is correspondingly tiny and easily overlooked or inaudible at a distance.

• Gray to grayish-brown body with a row of large, dark brown blotches down the back
• Smaller secondary blotches along the sides
• Heavy-bodied with a triangular, distinct head and vertical pupils
• Small rattle, often producing a faint buzz
• Nine large scales on top of the head (unlike most vipers), a useful field character
• Distinguished from gopher/bull snakes by the rattle, pit organs, and vertical pupils

Massasaugas favor wet prairies, bogs, marshes, and lowland areas near rivers and lakes, often moving to drier uplands in summer. They occur at low elevations across their fragmented Great Lakes and Midwest range, and populations are increasingly isolated by agriculture and development.

Active by day in cooler months and more crepuscular in summer heat. Generally shy and reluctant to strike, relying on camouflage first. Diet consists of small rodents, other small vertebrates, and occasionally amphibians. Reproduction is viviparous, with modest litters born in late summer.