Massassauga Rattlesnake On Camp Trail

[delmer]

I was fortunate enough to be able to schedule a large block of vacation time in August, which allowed me to spend time up in northern Ontario. I just got back from 10 days in the Long Lac area, and previous to that, spent a week in the French/Pickerel River area at our camp located west of highway 69. While at our camp and traveling the trail with my nephew in my side by side, we came across this fellow laying on the trail. I was able to stop and get a photo while hanging out the front of the machine. Even with the engine running, the sound of his rattle was very clear. He was very thick through the middle, and not in much of a hurry to move, which leads me to believe he may have been digesting something. My first sighting of a Massassauga, even though I have been going to the area for many years. I had told my nephew there were rattlers in the area, but he always thought I was pulling his leg. He knows differently now.

I was going to report the sighting, but the form on the MNR website was too detailed and long for my liking.


rattelsnake.jpg

[Hunter John]

Beauty find Delmer.

[JUDGE]

Great sighting, I saw my first one last week on the Bruce Peninsula . It was smaller then the one you saw . It had 3 rattles .
It tried to bite my friend first, then made the rattle.
Good thing it was small and couldn't reach him.

[RTRonthefly]

I came across this little guy a couple years back. He was sunning himself on a gravel road around Gravenhurst.

[yellow dog]

Awesome find !

[trimmer21]

I came across this little guy a couple years back. He was sunning himself on a gravel road around Gravenhurst.

They love the heat from the road. Unfortunately,that's how the majority get killed.

[Sharon]

Very courageous to get a picture. I saw one sunning on a stump beside a trail I was using up north of Wiarton - Cypress Lake . I just wanted to move on fast - forget the picture.

[outback]

He looks rather large. Not a big fan of snakes but ya got a good pic there.

outback

[Woodsman]

The rare one will get over 4 feet.
They are not generally aggressive but will strike when surprised or cornered.
Not known to case people down if you give them room to escape.
Reaching into crevices in rock formations or under elevated cottages result in most bites.

[flowerjohn]

Those are some great pics there.