I found a photo of the exact spot where the previous 2 yr old massasauga was found. This is the location of an abandoned settlement (can’t see the old house). There is a well buried in amongst the debris and tin. The snake was found under the tin each time…



The next photo shows where the settlement site meets the swamp forest. Notice the grassy wetland inbetween the swamp and the higher ground of the cleared area of the settlement. My vehicle is way in the background…



This next photo shows the higher ground which was cleared and built up many years ago. Guess how the snakes are using this manmade habitat?



This is a hole that penetrates deep into the open raised area. The massasaugas live in these burrows during the summer and are rarely seen above ground. One has to be familiar with the conditions the snakes rise to the surface under. An adult female was seen next to this burrow and crawled back into it after she was startled by me taking pictures…



Now we will be looking at a juvenile massasauga. This snake was seen in early July, 2004. Notice the very short rattle (maybe one segment and a button). It was likely born in August, 2003, and was 11 months old. This is what first year ‘saugas look like in n. MI. Also notice that it’s opaque, a condition seen a lot in ‘saugas found on the surface…



This is what we see a lot at this site…a gravid female, often opaque. Frank, look at the rattle. To me it looks like the base of the tail + four segments + the button. This is a typical rattle for three yr. old females. Is that how you count segments?…



Here’s one more photo, an old one from 2002, of another gravid female, not opaque, just sunning after a rain. I don’t have many pix from before then because I didn’t have the gear to do that at the time. I believe she has four segments also…



One reason I posted this series today is because I think something is going on with seeing all these gravid females at this open site, surrounded by massasauga (normal) habitat of swamp and woods. I do occasionally see adult males at these sites, but not nearly as often as the females. I also see quite a few juvenile and neonate ‘saugas at sites like this one, and have never seen babies at any other site types. Almost all my sitings have been between June 1st and the first week of September. What does this mean?



I have found places where the females are dropping their babies too, including this current site. I have always seen this event in the second week of August, although I’m sure it varies somewhat. It seems to me that the babies don’t travel very far. When they are older, they move into the swamp and down by the river, about ½ mile away, because that is their main habitat. I think as babies, however, they stay quite close to where they were born. I do need to do a lot more investigating in the swamps earlier in the year. I could be missing opportunities to make observations there. Other folks have observed massasaugas up to the month of October, in the swamps, but only adults.



Hope this helps some more



TC


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