Rare rattlesnake found in Northern Ohio, wildlife officials say
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says an eastern massasauga rattlesnake was found in Huron County. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake, a rare species of snake that is currently listed as endangered in the United States, has been found in Huron County, Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced that the rare snake was found during a snake survey and measured and released, but did not specify its size. The species is also known as a swamp rattler or black snapper and is one of only three venomous snakes in Ohio. While venomous, it rarely bites people due to its shyness and elusive nature, primarily eats rodents and sometimes frogs.
Yayınlanan : 10 ay önce ile Cliff Pinckard, cpinckar, Cliff Pinckard | [email protected] içinde Science
HURON COUNTY, Ohio — An eastern massasauga rattlesnake, currently listed as endangered in the United States, recently was found in Huron County, wildlife officials say.
In a post on social media, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources says the rattlesnake was found last month during a snake survey. The snake was measured and then released, but the post does not say how large it was. The U.S. Department of Fish & Wildlife says adults can grow to 2 to 3 feet long.
The massasauga rattlesnake’s habitat includes Ohio, but typically not the Cleveland area, according to Fish & Wildlife. It’s also found in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The snake also is known as a swamp rattler or black snapper. It is one of only three venomous snakes in Ohio, including the timber rattlesnake and the copperhead.
The massasauga rattlesnake is considered a small pit viper, with a triangular-shaped head and vertical pupils. It’s usually gray or light brown with large, light-edged chocolate brown blotches on the back and smaller blotches on the sides, according to Fish & Wildlife.
While venomous, it rarely bites people because it is shy and elusive. It primarily eats rodents, but sometimes will eat frogs and other snakes.
Konular: Wildlife