Wednesday, April 16th
April's meeting will focus on how to safely handle and present your reptile to the public. Please feel free to bring your own animal to show off.
Meetings start promptly at 8pm in the Alumni Room of Medaille College.
Annual Banquet
PLEASE NOTE: The annual banquet and recognition dinner will be rescheduled due to conflicts. The new date will likely be a Saturday in May, please contact a board member for more information.
Eastern Massasauga
(Sistrurus catenatus)
The Eastern Massasauga is an Endangered Species in New York State though it does not have a federal status. It is the smallest of the rattlesnakes found in New York. The are generally 18 - 40 inches in length. They have 9 enlarged scales on the top of the head. Other rattlesnakes, including the Timber Rattlesnake have several smaller scales on the top of the head. They are gray or brownish-gray with dark brown hourglass shaped markings. There is a dark bar with lighter borders that extends from the eye to the jaw. There are only two populations in New York of Eastern Massasaugas. In Western New York they can be found in Bergin Swamps near Rochester. There are also populations in Central New York and in Southern Ontario near Georgian Bay.
Like all other pit vipers they possess a temperature sensing organ referred to as a pit. The pits allow the snake to detect its prey as well as potential predators. The pits on the Eastern Massasauga are located on both sides of the face below the eyes and nostrils. The most distinctive characteristic of all rattlesnakes is the rattle at the end of the tail. A segment is added to the rattle after each shed. Some segments of the rattle routinely break off as well so it is impossible to tell a rattlesnake's exact age from the number of segments on the rattle. When the snake shakes its tail you hear the distinctive sound that all rattlesnakes possess.
Mating can occur anytime from April to September but is most common in May or June. Young are born in August or September There are generally 3 - 19 young born in a litter and measure 6 - 9 inches in length. They will hibernate from October through April. They will usually hibernate in sphagnum bogs.
They are generally diurnal but may become nocturnal during the warmest part of the summer. They feed mostly on rodents but may also feed on other small mammals, birds, frogs and other snakes.
The term massasauga means "great river mouth" in Chippewa and probably refers to this species fondness for wet habitat, including river valleys. In the early 1980's radio-telemetry studies were performed to determine the status of the species. There have also been experiments in habitat management. Programs to continue to clear encroaching brush and to release captive bred specimens have both been proposed to help preserve this species in New York.
As with all venomous snakes, this species should not be directly approached or handled as it can pose a very serious danger. It is best to leave this animal in place and if you are lucky enough to have a camera with you take some pictures of your encounter.
Remember that in many places it is illegal to take wildlife out of the wild without the proper permits from local, state, or federal authorities. Please do not release any captive reptiles or amphibians into the wild as this will disrupt the natural order of our environment. See our amphibian and reptile adoptions page for more information on what to do with unwanted herps.
Help reptiles in need by donating to our Adoption Fund! Your donations will help feed and house reptiles waiting for adoption.