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[MonroeNews.com]

FRENCHTOWN TOWNSHIP – For the second time in recent days Rachael Halfmann helped capture a snake on her property and both times the tip of the snake’s tail vibrated rapidly like a rattler.

“I knew it was no garter snake,” she said.  - full article here.

Snake found in backyard on Spaulding Rd. Frenchtown Twp. Monroe, MI

[BigRedDog]

I've spent a lot of time in the woods in and around Monroe County in the last 10 years and I've never seen a rattlesnake...

not saying they don't exist...   

just that I've never seen one

[eriemermaid]

I saw one at the bridge on Cousino Rd, kind of by the house with the windmill BRD.  It has been a while ago, but it was a rattlesnake!

[Mike Ingels]

I've never seen a rattlesnake in all of Michigan, but I know that they are there.  And, really, they aren't all THAT rare.  They are just small, reclusive and mostly confined to marshy areas.  I have hiked in most of the publicly-accessible areas of SE Michigan and I am sure that I have been within a few feet of rattlesnakes on dozens of occasions, but I've never seen 'em - or at least known enough to recognize them.

[Frenchfry]

At least rattlesnakes will warn you before they attack.

Michigan's Massasauga Rattlesnake

[marilyn.monroe]

"Don't Tread on Me!"

[MM1]

"Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes are known by many names, Some people call them, Massasauga Rattlers, Black Massasauga Rattlers, Michigan Rattlers, Swamp Rattlers and many other names.

 The word Massasauga (mass-a-saw'-ga) is said to mean “great river mouth” in the Chippewa language describing the swampland surrounding a river delta where the snakes can be found. Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes are known by their scientific name as Sistrurus Catenatus. Equipped with heat sensing pit-organs, venom and a rattle, they are Michigan 's only poisonous snake.
 
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes are pit vipers, being equipped with heat-sensing pit organs between the eye and nostril on either side of their heads. These pits lead to a pair of extremely sensitive infrared organs that serve as a set of primitive eyes that can operate even when the snakes eyes and ears cannot. We have much to learn about this evolutionary technology.

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes have a pair of long hollow fangs that they can inject venom into their prey. When the fangs are not in use they fold against the roof of the mouth enclosed in a membranous sheath. During a strike an Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake will eject the fangs at the last possible moment, each fang can be engaged simultaneously or independently. The strike is very fast and can work as more of a stab in a defensive strike. The venom of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake uses specialized digestive enzymes that disrupt the cardiovascular system. Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake venom is generally regarded as less dangerous to humans because they inject less venom than larger rattlers. However, all venomous snakebites should be considered dangerous and medical attention sought. "


read more and see images at: http://easternmassasaugarattlesnake.com/

[BigRedDog]

I saw one at the bridge on Cousino Rd, kind of by the house with the windmill BRD.  It has been a while ago, but it was a rattlesnake!

If I had to pick an area to go looking for rattlesnakes that is probably exactly where I would have started. 

I've never seen a rattlesnake in all of Michigan, but I know that they are there.  And, really, they aren't all THAT rare.  They are just small, reclusive and mostly confined to marshy areas.  I have hiked in most of the publicly-accessible areas of SE Michigan and I am sure that I have been within a few feet of rattlesnakes on dozens of occasions, but I've never seen 'em - or at least known enough to recognize them.

I agree they're probably often just a few feet away Mike...  I guess I've never gotten out of bed in the morning and thought "this would be a good day to go out in the woods and look for a rattlesnake"   If I went looking I'd dress appropriately and take some precautions and I'd probably find one or two if I was lucky

Somehow they're just not real high on my priority list

[Professor H]

At the Ford Property along the River/Lake there are probably a few as we saw either a rattler or one of the ones that look similar - didn't get close enough to check for a rattler on the tail 

I guess it's a good thing I cleaned up my barnyard and removed an old sheet of plywood :-)


Rattlesnakes are easy to identify. Like all but one of the dangerous snakes in North America, they have a heavy, triangular head with elliptical or cat's-eye pupils. They also have a rattle, and generally they will let you hear it if you approach. There are more than a dozen different species of rattlesnakes in North America. Rattlesnakes are attracted to garbage heaps, barns and livestock areas, especially if there are mice around and things lying on the ground to hide under. Old sheets of plywood, tin or barn siding on the ground are their favorite hideouts.

To reduce the likelihood that rattlesnakes will take up residence too close to your home or garden, keep the area neat and clean with few places for a snake to take cover and relax in the shade. Gopher, pine and bull snakes are color look-alikes for rattlers, but their comparatively slender heads and lack of rattle on the tail is a dead giveaway. Click here to learn how to identify an Eastern diamondback rattlesnake and a pygmy rattlesnake.

http://www.snakegetters.com/snake.html

[marilyn.monroe]

"Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes are known by many names, Some people call them, Massasauga Rattlers, Black Massasauga Rattlers, Michigan Rattlers, Swamp Rattlers and many other names.

 The word Massasauga (mass-a-saw'-ga) is said to mean “great river mouth” in the Chippewa language describing the swampland surrounding a river delta where the snakes can be found. Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes are known by their scientific name as Sistrurus Catenatus. Equipped with heat sensing pit-organs, venom and a rattle, they are Michigan 's only poisonous snake.
 
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes are pit vipers, being equipped with heat-sensing pit organs between the eye and nostril on either side of their heads. These pits lead to a pair of extremely sensitive infrared organs that serve as a set of primitive eyes that can operate even when the snakes eyes and ears cannot. We have much to learn about this evolutionary technology.

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes have a pair of long hollow fangs that they can inject venom into their prey. When the fangs are not in use they fold against the roof of the mouth enclosed in a membranous sheath. During a strike an Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake will eject the fangs at the last possible moment, each fang can be engaged simultaneously or independently. The strike is very fast and can work as more of a stab in a defensive strike. The venom of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake uses specialized digestive enzymes that disrupt the cardiovascular system. Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake venom is generally regarded as less dangerous to humans because they inject less venom than larger rattlers. However, all venomous snakebites should be considered dangerous and medical attention sought. "


read more and see images at: http://easternmassasaugarattlesnake.com/

I knew them as Michigan Rattlers. "Walk loudly and carry a big walking stick"