A Great Day with Snakes

Americorps • June 14, 2021

There are few feelings quite exhilarating as seeing a rare and threatened wildlife species in the wild. Your adrenaline kicks into high gear, everything else seems to stop and you are completely transfixed by its movements. I can attest this is what happened the first time I saw an Eastern massasauga rattlesnake. 

I was fortunate enough to have that experience when I accompanied Huron Pines AmeriCorps (HPA) members from Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for an Eastern massasauga rattlesnake survey a few weeks ago in Oakland County.    

I had never participated in such a survey before and did not know much about herpetology: the study of reptiles and amphibians. When the opportunity presented itself, I thought it was a great opportunity to broaden my knowledge and have a new experience in conservation. 

Eastern massasaugas are the only venomous snake species in Michigan and have been on the Endangered Species List since 2016. 

According to the USFWS, “The Eastern massasauga is a small, thick-bodied rattlesnake that lives in shallow wetlands and adjacent uplands in portions of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ontario. The Eastern massasauga has been declining over the past three decades due to loss and fragmentation of its wetland habitat. Throughout its range, biologists have confirmed that less than half of the Eastern massasauga’s historical populations still exist.”  

Led by MNFI seasonal technicians, we spread out across the prairie fen, which I learned on the day was a “wetland community dominated by sedges, grasses and other graminoids,” and began the survey by walking, looking for good spots with shade/cover and listening for the buzzing sound of an Eastern massasauga rattle. 

Luckily for our group, we did not have to go far. Molly Fava, an HPA member serving with MNFI, found the first snake of the day only about 10 minutes into the survey. The whole group stopped, looked around and quickly prepared for the capture and data collection. 

Using snake tongs, one of the MNFI technicians carefully handled the snake and placed it in a pillowcase lining a five-gallon bucket. Still using tongs, the pillowcase was draped over the side of the bucket and then the lid was placed on top so that a knot could be safely tied in the pillowcase. A flag was placed at the site of the capture so that the snake could be returned to the same location after the data collection. Our group found a second Eastern massasauga about 20 minutes later and repeated the process. 

During the processing portion of the survey, MNFI collected many different points of data for their study, including the length of the body, the length of the rattle, their weight, number of markings and among other data points they examined the snakes for potential signs of Snake Fungal Disease . 

Participating in this survey was a great privilege. These ongoing surveys will provide valuable information about Eastern massasauga rattlesnake populations and behavior here in Michigan.  

To learn more about Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes and the important work of Michigan Natural Features Inventory, click this link .

Recent Posts

MUCC Submits Public Comment in Support of Line 5 Tunnel Project

By Justin Tomei • June 30, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MUCC Submits Public Comment in Support of Line 5 Tunnel Project Lansing, MI — Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), the nation’s largest statewide conservation organization, has submitted formal public comments urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to approve the Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Project. In a letter submitted today, MUCC emphasized the need to move this critical infrastructure forward to protect the Great Lakes while maintaining safe, reliable energy transportation. “MUCC supports the tunnel project as the best available alternative to reduce the risk of an environmental disaster in the Straits of Mackinac while continuing to deliver essential energy products to Michigan families and industries,” said Amy Trotter, CEO of MUCC. “We believe the tunnel project strikes a balance between protecting the environment and maintaining energy security.” MUCC’s position is backed by a formal resolution passed by its membership, which includes thousands of hunters, anglers, trappers, and outdoor enthusiasts across Michigan. The resolution supports the tunnel as a long-term solution that replaces the aging and exposed pipeline segment currently crossing the Straits, offering greater environmental safeguards through secondary containment. The organization cited the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which acknowledges the tunnel’s benefits, including reduced spill risk and a controlled, buried environment for transporting light crude oil and natural gas liquids. MUCC also rejected the "no action alternative," which would allow the existing line to remain in operation without any new protective infrastructure. “Other alternatives, like transporting fuel by truck or rail, are inefficient and carry greater environmental and safety risks,” Trotter added. “Allowing the current line to operate exposed on the lakebed indefinitely is simply not acceptable.” MUCC’s comment stresses that the organization is not weighing in on the type of energy transported, but rather on the environmental risks and safety benefits of the tunnel itself. Originally approved by the Michigan legislature and governor in 2018, the Great Lakes Tunnel Project represents a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure and environmental protection. MUCC urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to issue the necessary permits and move forward with construction without further delay. For Media Contact: Justin Tomei jtomei@mucc.org 517-346-6488 #####

Michigan Wildlife Conservation Month: MUCC's Impact

By Olivia Triltsch • June 26, 2025
Since its inception, MUCC has made great strides in the conservation of natural resources through advocacy, habitat, youth education, and communications.

On the Ground: Native Plug Planting at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

By Katelyn Helsel • June 25, 2025
On Saturday, June 21, 2025, MUCC’s On the Ground program partnered with the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute (PCCI) for a native plug planting day in Barry County. Located on 850 acres, the institute offers both environmental education opportunities and serves as a biological field station for conducting research. Many diverse native communities from wetlands to prairies are present at PCCI, and many rare or threatened species in Michigan like the eastern box turtle call the institute home. 
More Posts