Michigan Herp Trips

The heat of summer was rolling on here in Southeast Michigan, and the summer mating activity for the Eastern Massasauga was coming to a close. It had been an amazing year with these snakes, in total, I had came across eighteen seperate individuals. But, as the peak season was dwindling, I was hoping to get at least one more look at Michigan's venmous snake. It was a beautiful early August evening, so I decided to take a trip out and try to catch a few Massasaugas on the move. I traveled to my usual local stomping grounds and started flipping some boards looking for any kind of herps. The area is quite beautiful, especially around sunsent.

Flipping site in Washtenaw County, Michigan

After flipping several boards, I flipped a rotting log and turned up a yearling Dekay's Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi) moving along and probably searching for its favorite food, slugs. This snake was one of the smallest I had ever seen, yet he was very lively and seemed to be in great health.

Dekay's Brown Snake

After turning up a few Leopard Frogs and Garter snakes, I decided to take a path that runs along the edge of fen habitat. As I turned  a corner, I noticed movement ahead in the middle of the path...

An Eastern Massasauga Heads for Cover

It was a nice adult Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, the snake I had been looking for. Right out in the open trail, it seemed odd to see it there. Most of the time, Massasaugas prefer to be reclusive and keep themselves hidden in long grass. But this one was right in the open. I grabbed my camera and spent about twenty minutes photographing this beautiful serpent.

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake

I happened to be wearing my Massasauga Conservation t-shirt, so I couldn't help but snap a picture of the real thing with the hardware.

Snakes on a T-shirt

Sistrurus catenatus catenatus

I let the snake go on it's way, and continued my walk. That in itself would have made my night, but little did I know that I was in for another surprise a mere hundred feet ahead in the bath. As I was walking, I heard a buzzing coming from a bush near the edge of the path, and it sounded like a rattlesnake. I found the source of the sound, and saw this.

ANOTHER?! I could not believe my eyes! Two Eastern Massasaugas within a hundred feet of each other, that does not happen very often. It was amazing. This rattler had a completely different attitude than the one before, it was mad and it was rattling flat out!

An Angry little Rattlesnake!

Overall, the night of August 8th was one I will always remember as one of my favorite herp memories. I don't think I will ever again have an experience with Michigan's venomous snake as I did that night.

Species Observed:

• Green Frog
• Dekay's Brown Snake
• Eastern Garter Snake
• Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake

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