How poisonous is a massasauga snake?
Envenomation can result in hemorrhage, increased vascular permeability, tissue necrosis and, in the worst-case scenario, death from shock. In a case reported by the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, a massasauga rattlesnake bit a 62-year-old man on the right thumb.
Are massasauga rattlers venomous?
The massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is a rattlesnake species found in midwestern North America from southern Ontario to northern Mexico and parts of the United States in between. Like all rattlesnakes, it is a pit viper, and like all pit vipers, it is venomous.
How do you identify a massasauga?
Adult massasaugas are gray or light brown with large, light-edged chocolate brown blotches on the back and smaller blotches on the sides. The snake’s belly is marbled dark gray or black and there is a narrow, white stripe on its head.
Are massasauga rattlesnakes protected in Ontario?
Due to the rapidly disappearing habitat and declining population, the eastern massasauga rattlesnake has been officially designated as threatened and is protected from harassment or killing under Ontario’s Wildlife Conservation Act and the Ontario Endangered Species Act .
How do you treat a massasauga rattlesnake bite?
Monitoring for coagulopathies is required after massasauga rattlesnake bites. Antivenom is the first-line treatment for envenomation. Additional doses of antivenom may be needed; thus, close monitoring is required.
What do Massasauga rattlesnakes eat?
Food, Flicks, and Fangs Their heat-seeking ability helps Massasauga rattlesnakes find endothermic prey, such as mice, shrews, and small birds. But these snakes also eat a variety of ectothermic (so-called “cold-blooded”) critters, including frogs, lizards, and small snakes.
How many people get bit by rattlesnakes in Ontario?
The number ranges from 0 to 9 bites per year. Many bites occur as a result of people engaging in risky behaviour such as trying to capture the rattlesnake. No person has died from a rattlesnake bite in Ontario in more than 40 years.
How do you treat a Massasauga rattlesnake bite?
What do you do if your dog gets bit by a Massasauga rattlesnake?
If your pet is bitten by a Massasauga (or any snake), DO NOT try to suck out the venom. Rinse the wound with clean water and promptly transport your pet to the veterinarian.
Are Massasauga rattlesnakes endangered?
Least ConcernMassasauga / Conservation status
Where are massasauga rattlesnakes found in Ontario?
In Canada, the Massasauga is found only in Ontario, primarily along the eastern side of Georgian Bay and on the Bruce Peninsula. Two small populations are also found in the Wainfleet Bog on the northeast shore of Lake Erie and near Windsor.
Will a dog yelp if bitten by a snake?
If you see a rattlesnake bite your dog, move quickly. Your dog will likely yelp and back off a bit, but he may try to fight the snake.
What is the biggest snake in Canada?
Gray ratsnake
Gray ratsnake is Canada’s largest species of snake. The queen snake is aquatic and non-venomous, and at maturity can reach lengths of 60-90 centimetres.
Are there water moccasin snakes in Ontario?
In Canada, the range of the Northern Watersnake extends from extreme southwestern Quebec across southern Ontario and into central Ontario, north to the North Bay area and west to the eastern shore of Lake Superior. It is one of the most common snakes found around lakes and rivers within its range in Canada.
What is a massasauga rattlesnake?
The Massasauga is a venomous rattlesnake species found in midwestern North America. Like all rattlesnakes, it belongs to the pit viper family. Massasaugas are grey or tan in color with a row of large rounded brown/black blotches or spots down the center of the back and three smaller rows of alternating spots down each side.
Where do massasauga snakes live?
The massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is a rattlesnake species found in midwestern North America from southern Ontario to northern Mexico, and parts of the United States in between.
What does massasaugas look like?
Massasaugas are grey or tan in color with a row of large rounded brown/black blotches or spots down the center of the back and three smaller rows of alternating spots down each side. Solid black melanistic examples are also known, as well as cases where the back blotches join with those on the sides.
Is the Massasauga a threatened species?
The massasauga is listed as threatened under both Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007, and the federal Species at Risk Act, and is protected under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. It is found only near the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, the Bruce Peninsula, the North Shore of Lake Huron, Wainfleet Bog, and Ojibway Prairie.