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Massassauga/ mississauga rattlers

F

freetv-5

New member
I live in southern Ontario, Canada. Last year when camping I camp across one of these while having a washroom break in the woods. I know they have some poison but how much/how bad?? Heard it wasn't even worth going to the hospital unless you had allergies????
If thats true might try to save one as housing is eating up there homes very quickly!
So how bad is there bite? I know it hurts due to fangs but poison wise???
Bill
 
I have no clue what their bite is like, but I whatever it is I can tell you that it would be worth not messing with it.

We're not talking about a hognose snake that is considered "mildly venomous". If a hognose chews on your hand it may make your arm swell up for awhile.

A rattlesnake is the real deal. It's an all-out venomous snake with proper fangs and venom glands and the whole works.
I really have no clue what it could do to you. But don't just listen to what the locals tell you. Take it very seriously. Treat the snake as if it could kill you. And if you don't know how to handle venomous snakes, leave them alone and get someone experienced to do it.
 
If you're talking abouth the massassauga rattle snake, you'd BETTER rethink this and do some in depth research!I live not too far from Bosoulie Island, on Georgian Bay.It's a Provinial park and massassauga reserv.As far as I know HDH in midland and Parrysound Distric Hospital are the only places that have stocks of anti-venom!Make no mistake these snakes are VERY serious and should be treated with great respect!
 
Hope this helps...

The following was taken from the "US Fish & Wildlife Service"...

http://library.fws.gov/Pubs3/massasauga_snake_why.pdf

Be sure to read the part "How Dangerous is the Massasauga? It's on the second page. I can tell you this for sure, their venom is nothing to mess with. I've seen dogs killed in not more than an hour or so and it's also quite toxic to humans. As I live on the Ohio/Mich Border, I've encountered these quite a bit, more so when I was younger and although they're quite secretive and not as aggressive as others, I would still leave the handling to the experienced. Hope this helps...
 
Ok just wondering. I was thinking of hook catching on to be able to take a good look.
They seem to be one of the most interesting Herps. in my area.
I truly have heard that people bitten have signs very simular of that of a person with multiple bee stings. I know I know could just be bull****. There is an old guy around here who actually catches them and transfers them to safer places away from towns-cities.
I have asked and he said he will take me with him next spring so I can see them and how he catches them! He has been bitten often and never seeks medical help (omune to the venoum?)
 
A massassauga is a snake you don't want to get bitten by. Because of their small size they may not seem as menacing as a large atrox or horridus, but they can do some serious damage! Snakes inject venom (I say this because if you say poison to a herpetologist they're going to blow you off. Poisons usually refer to things that need to be ingested to do harm where venom is injected) and these type of snakes have a cytotoxic and hemotoxic venom that will attack and destroy the tissues around the area that the bite occurred. It will start off as a lot of pain and swelling, but it can end very seriously with sepsis and death being the worst of worst depending on the venom load, potency of that snake, and the reaction your body has to the envenomation. Most likely this guy is pulling your chain and if he isn't I'd look at his hands because most likely he's going to have some disfiguration unless he's extremely lucky and just received dry bites (bites where the snake doesn't feel the need to use its precious venom). I wouldn't advise you to keep one unless you are very aware of the consequences, aware of the laws in your area about housing venomous snakes, know where the closest hospital that carries CroFab (sp?) is, and know what you're doing around venomous snakes. Massassaugas are beautiful little snakes though and its sad that what is happening in your area seems to be the norm across their range and they're becoming harder and harder to find. Glad to hear that this man is helping to move them to better places and if he's willing to teach you then get in and help conserve the species in your area :)

Hope that helps some...
 
What kind of information do you have, for this species?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massasauga

The venom of rattlesnakes contains specialized digestive enzymes that disrupt blood flow and prevent blood clotting. Severe internal bleeding causes the death of the small animals that this snake eats. After envenomation, the rattlesnake is able to withdraw from the dangers of sharp toothed prey animals until they are subdued and even partially digested by the action of the venom.

S. c. catenatus is rather shy and avoids humans when it can. Most massasauga snakebites in Ontario have occurred after people deliberately handled or accidentally stepped on one of these animals. Both of these scenarios are preventable by avoiding hiking through areas of low visibility (in rattlesnake country) when not wearing shoes and long pants, and by leaving the massasaugas alone when they are found. There are only two recorded incidents of people dying from massasauga rattlesnake bites in Ontario and in both cases they did not receive proper treatment. In at least one of these cases, the victim was a young child.

In Ontario, the species is found only near the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, the Bruce Peninsula, Wainfleet Bog and Ojibway Prairie. Although it also ranges through several American states this is its only range in Canada. It is becoming rare in Canada due to persecution and loss of habitat and is designated as Threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), as well as the Committee on the Status of Species-at-Risk in Ontario (COSSARO)

I would check your local laws, but I doubt that you could obtain or even move any specimen, without a permit, legally.
 
abell82 said:
I would check your local laws, but I doubt that you could obtain or even move any specimen, without a permit, legally.
Click to expand...

As far as I know keeping this species is illegal in ALL of Ontario.The are a strongly protected species in this area!A few years back a man was fined $5000 for killing one that he thought was a threat to him,it wasn't and he was fined!:)
 
I don't know much about hots ... but if I came across a snake with a rattle on its tail ... I know for certain I wouldn't touch it.


Connor.
 
I recently had a massasauga expert speak to my herp class and this is what he had found in his 30 years of working with them.

“It would take 40mg of massasauga venom to kill a human…most full grown massasaugas produce 25-35mg of venom in each bite.”

So you probably wont die but it will mess you up pretty good!
 
Yeah

Thats what I kind of heard ( unreliable source??)
I also heard that some resistance builds up over time?
Know anything about that? I am not going to try and keep on but would like to watch this old timer who catches in urban area and live releases in safer areas for these great creatures!
Does the resistance thing sound right or is it just a experienced and very careful handler?
Bill
 
I really doubt you can build up a resistance to the venom. And at $1000 per vile of antivenin (usually takes 10 viles for the first treatment) I dont really want to be the one to test it! But this old timer would be pretty cool to watch.
 
freetv-5 said:
Thats what I kind of heard ( unreliable source??)
I also heard that some resistance builds up over time?
Know anything about that? I am not going to try and keep on but would like to watch this old timer who catches in urban area and live releases in safer areas for these great creatures!
Does the resistance thing sound right or is it just a experienced and very careful handler?
Bill
Click to expand...

Sigh, if your WITH the guy, and HE gets caught "relocating" them.. he WILL get nailed with a poaching fine.. and you will get nailed with him...as an accomplice which will leave your wallet empty, after a nice bit of jail time.. there specially protected in Ontario, Take a two minute Google search and that would tell you.. if you see one, leave it alone.
 
How 'bout not just messing around with wild snakes? It could be illgal, and can be deadly if you come across a poisonus one.
 
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