BATTLE CREEK ENQUIRER (Michigan) 01 October 06 Lesson on Michigan's venomous snake (Thomas Funke lives on the Michigan Audubon Otis Sanctuary in Barry County. You can report Massasauga sightings to him at otissanctuary@mei.net or 269.948.5777)

If you've been out to my neck of the woods, it seems a pretty remote place for only being in Barry County. With one neighbor, there is little vehicle traffic, which allows for a diversity and abundance of wildlife.

This was very evident recently when my only neighbor, Hank, pulled up in his red truck. With his two yellow labs in tow, Belle and Summer, he hops out of the cab with a sense of urgency.

"Tom, tell me if these are rattlesnake bites."

Immediately thinking that he was bit, he grabs both dogs and points to their snouts. There it was, classic fang marks about an inch apart, right next to each dog's nostril.

Heads swollen but tails wagging, I'm told it has been about an hour since they've been bit.

I recommend that he takes the dogs to the veterinarian right away.

Off he goes.

Massasauga, which means "great river mouth" in the Chippewa language is the smallest and has one of the most potent venom of snakes living in the U.S.! However, they inject so little venom that it rarely kills anything larger than a squirrel. Curious dogs, like the neighbors, are far more frequently bitten than people and most survive the experience. Symptoms of envenomation include pain, swelling, and discoloration (due to rupturing of blood vessels) at the bite site, as well as nausea, sweating, fainting. Scientists speculate that Massasaugas actually inject venom about 25 percent to 50 percent of the time, since venom is expensive for rattlesnakes to produce.

However, all bites should always receive prompt medical treatment.

Although, serious complications and fatalities are extremely rare in humans, I'm told that you'll feel so bad that you'd wished you had died.

The Massasauga's first line of defense is to avoid being seen, and its color pattern offers excellent camouflage as it skulks in a marsh.

Most will "freeze" when approached and frequently remain undetected by people passing, even close by. Should a potential threat come too close or even touch a Massasauga, it may try to flee into thick vegetation or choose to stand its ground.

I've seen a grown man, while wearing sandals, step on a Massasauga and the snake just sat there, frozen. But not this gentleman, he scurried off to higher ground realizing that my advice to wear hip boots in this particular Barry County marsh was a better idea than his choice in footwear!

Rattlesnakes do us a favor when threatened; it may vibrate its rattle as a warning, sounding like a buzzing insect. Michigan averages 1.5 human rattlesnake bites a year. As I always say, the best way to protect yourself from being bit and dying from a rattlesnake, is to wearing your seatbelt. You're more likely to die in a car crash.

I live on the edge of a marsh thick with Massasaugas. The DNR and Michigan Natural Features Inventory will train their staff how to find and identify rattlesnakes behind our house. My, what a great feeling that is? However, we've only seen two rattlers in four years, one in the marsh while hiking and one while mowing the yard.

We have a rule, no walking outside without shoes on!

Massasaugas live in wetlands, usually marshes and fens, with stable water levels. They are thought to hibernate just above the groundwater level. Therefore, any fluctuation could drown or cause them to freeze. Barry County could be their last stronghold in Michigan if not the Midwest.

This snake is in dire need of conservation. Unnecessary killing, habitat destruction, flooding and draining of its habitat, and being stricken by cars are decimating their populations. They are an integral part of our ecosystems, eating small mammals (like mice) keeping them in check. Although venomous, give them the respect (and distance) they deserve. In all likelihood, you'll never see one but always know that they could be present doing their job in our environment.

Summer and Belle? They survived their harrowing experience.
Lesson on Michigan's venomous snake

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