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Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
Sistrurus catenatus catenatus
The eastern massasauga is a venomous, stocky snake with a well-developed rattle. It eats small rodents, birds, frogs, and other snakes. Generally found in wetland areas and river bottomlands it migrates from wet areas to drier ones during the summer, and hibernates individually in rodent burrows near the wetlands. Human fear of snakes, based on lack of knowledge, is a great factor in the Massasauga's decline. It has been protected since 1990 and a recovery effort is being implemented.
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