The eastern massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is a small to medium sized rattlesnake measuring 46 to 78 cm in length with a distinctive triangular head and vertical cat-like pupils. Their colouration ranges from gray or light brown to almost entirely black, with dark blotches outlined in lighter scales. The most diagnostic feature is the small keratinized rattle at the tail’s end that produces a quiet buzzing sound when vibrated. They can be spotted in wet habitats including marshes, sedge meadows, wet prairies, fens, bogs, and swamps, though they often move to drier upland areas during summer months.
The males and females look almost identical.
Age of maturation is reached at 3 to 5 years and they will live for 12 to 14 years in the wild. Massasaugas are viviparous, meaning females give birth to fully developed live young. Breeding occurs in summer and females give birth the following August to litters of 5 to 20 young, in abandoned mammal burrows, under table rocks or among woody debris. Young snakes remain near their mother for only a few days before dispersing to begin independent life with no parental guidance or protection.
Among other measures, the federal massasauga Recovery Strategy calls for habitat management and protection, along with communication and outreach to reduce killing and collection. For the Carolinian population, conservation breeding and reintroduction are recommended, if feasible, as well as determining the effectiveness of translocations.
In Canada, massasauga rattlesnakes are limited to the Georgian Bay shoreline and only two isolated habitats in Ontario’s Carolinian Zone: the Ojibway Prairie Complex near Windsor and the Wainfleet Bog near Welland. However, there have been no wild sightings at Ojibway Prairie since 2019. We’re working to reverse that.
In 2021, WPC was asked to lead the creation of a provincial recovery implementation team for the massasauga. We’ve successfully begun overwintering snakes in preparation for reintroducing them to Ojibway Prairie. We’re restoring habitat, setting up barriers to prevent road mortality, and reaching out to local landowners to encourage stewardship. In the process, we’re also benefiting other at-risk species like the Butler’s gartersnake.
We work to protect the massasauga rattlesnake from further impact by taking conservation actions that focus on monitoring, assessing and analyzing population recovery, as well as supporting our partners recovery efforts.
In 2023 we plan to have:
Find out how Wildlife Preservation Canada helps save Canada’s reptiles and amphibians, including massasaugas, and how you can make a difference.
If you encounter one, leave it alone and back away slowly. The snake wants nothing to do with you and will remain motionless if you don’t approach further. If you’re hiking in massasauga habitat, wear protective footwear and watch where you step. If you must move a snake out of harm’s way, or to protect people and pets, use a broom or long stick to encourage it to move in the direction it was traveling, and stay clear of its striking distance (⅓ to ½ its body length). If unsure, call local wildlife authorities to relocate it safely. Most importantly, never kill it. Report your sighting to local wildlife agencies to help track population distribution.
Q: Why do massasaugas have such small rattles?
A: Their small size limits how large their rattles can be. A smaller rattle vibrates at higher frequencies, producing a buzzing sound rather than the lower frequency rattle of larger species. Interestingly, segments are lost over time. A snake with eight rattle segments may well be more than eight years old since it sheds and adds a new segment with each skin shedding.
Q: Should I be worried about massasauga bites?
A: Rattlesnake bites are extremely rare in Ontario at less than a dozen in a year. Massasaugas are profoundly shy snakes that prefer to remain undetected. When approached, they typically stay motionless and rely on camouflage. The vast majority of bites occur when someone deliberately handles the snake or accidentally steps on one. Nonetheless, if bitten seek immediate medical attention.
Q: Why are massasaugas called "swamp rattlers"?
A: The massasauga’s name comes from the Chippewa/Ojibwe language, “massa” means “great” and “saug” means “mouth” or “river,” often interpreted as “great river mouth,” reflecting their strong association with wetland habitats. “Swamp rattler” is simply another descriptive name referring to their preference for marshy, wet areas where they spend much of the year before moving to upland areas in summer.
