Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been assigned a persuasive speech for my communications class and have chose to encourage to conservation of Sistrurus catenatus in IL. If any of you have any info. on this topic, or can point me in the right direction of any info, I would greatly appreciate it.

Do a search on Google for Sistrurus Information Network. It is an organization(based out of the Toronto Zoo or Ontario I think) that is dedicated to S.c.c. conservation. They publish an excellent book on the massasauga. Very informative site!!!

I agree, the SIN is a great resource, but is rather specific to the Ontario S.c.c., which is a unique cluster of populations. From people I've talked to, the situation is somewhat grim in Illinois. Jennifer Szymanski at the USFWS coordinated the writing of a status assesment of the eastern massasauga, and may be a good contact. Also, the USFWS published "The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake: A Handbook for Land Managers" which discusses the general biology, population status, and managment practices. It may be a good place to look, and use in conjunction with the SIN.

I know the Will Co FPD just did a survey for massasauga in the Goodenow Grove FP. They found none and the site is now listed as potentially extirpated.

Also , I beleive Allerton Park population is also gone.

Basically, the only ones left are in Clinton Co. and a very few in Cook/Lake Co's.