Where is the massasauga rattlesnake found in Canada?

Ontario
In Canada, the Massasauga is found only in Ontario, primarily along the eastern side of Georgian Bay and on the Bruce Peninsula. Two small populations are also found in the Wainfleet Bog on the northeast shore of Lake Erie and near Windsor.

What do you do if a massasauga rattler bites you?

One quarter of all rattlesnake bites are “dry” bites. Stay calm and reduce movement. Remove jewelry on the affected limb. Call emergency services (911) and get to a hospital as quickly and safely as possible.

Do massasauga rattlesnakes bite?

It is the only venomous snake species in Ontario, and although its venom is potent, this is a small snake with small fangs and a limited amount of venom. Snake bites are rare; approximately 2-3 per year and with treatment, a full recovery is highly probable.

How do you identify a massasauga snake?

Massasaugas are small snakes with thick bodies, heart-shaped heads and vertical pupils. The average length of an adult is about 2 feet. Adult massasaugas are gray or light brown with large, light-edged chocolate brown blotches on the back and smaller blotches on the sides.

Do all Massasauga rattlesnakes have rattles?

All Massasaugas are stout-bodied snakes with triangular-shaped heads. And of course, they all have a rattle on the end of their tail! The rattle is actually a series of interlocking scale segments, which make a buzzing noise when the tail is vibrated.

Are water snakes in Ontario poisonous?

The Lake Erie Watersnake is not venomous. The only venomous snake in Ontario is the Massassauga rattlesnake, which is a reclusive snake that would rather flee than bite. Lake Erie Watersnakes can be a paler colour than watersnakes found elsewhere in Ontario.

Does Canada have any poisonous snakes?

Specifically, in the case of snakes, there are 3 endemic venomous snake species in Canada that fall within the pit viper (Crotalinae) taxonomic subfamily and include the western rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus), the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis), and the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus).

Do massasauga snakes swim?

They return to the same hibernation site year after year. They can swim well, but spend most of their time basking on high ground, such as on muskrat lodges, grass clumps, or rocks. They are most active during the day but may become more active in the morning and evening during the hot months of summer.

Are massasauga rattlesnakes born with rattles?

The snakelings are about nine inches long at birth, and are somewhat paler than the adults. The young ones are born with a single rattle segment (called a button) on their tail. Each time the snakes shed their skin, a new segment is added to the rattle.

Do all massasauga rattlesnakes have rattles?

How do you identify a massasauga rattlesnake?

The background color of the Eastern Massasauga is typically gray or brownish gray, with a row of dark-brown to black dorsal blotches and three rows of small brown to black spots on each side of the body. The dorsal or side blotches in some individuals may be connected, giving the appearance of stripes.

Is there poisonous snakes in Canada?

What is a massasauga snake?

The massasauga snake, Sistrurus catenatus, is a venomous snake that can be found in several U.S. states in a wide strip from Southeastern Canada to Northern Mexico. It grows up to two feet in length and has characteristic brown/black and grey/white patterns along its body that look like an iron chain.

Where do you find massasauga snakes in Ontario?

Where it’s been found in Ontario. In Canada, the Massasauga is found only in Ontario, primarily along the eastern side of Georgian Bay and on the Bruce Peninsula. Two small populations are also found in the Wainfleet Bog on the northeast shore of Lake Erie and near Windsor.

Where do massasauga rattlesnakes live?

The massasauga ( Sistrurus catenatus) is a rattlesnake species found in midwestern North America from southern Ontario to northern Mexico, and parts of the United States in between. Three subspecies are currently recognized including the nominate subspecies described here.

Is the massasauga endangered in Ontario?

The massasauga is listed as threatened under both Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007, and the federal Species at Risk Act, and is protected under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.