The trip had been on my Snakes return to the same den each year, even baby snakes who've never been to … Massasaugas do not hibernate in a group like other snake species. Massasauga rattlesnakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they give birth to live young, rather than laying eggs externally. They emerge with rain or cooling weather conditions. Scales are ridged, giving this rattlesnake a rough-skinned appearance. The timber rattler has a broadly triangular head with many small scales on the crown of the head bordered by a few large scales, unlike the massasauga rattlesnake which has nine large scales on the top of the head. You can easily distinguish 25 rows of scales that run mid length on its lightly colored body. Most rattlesnakes hibernate in winter months but may also estivate (summer hibernation) during hot, dry summer months. The baby snakes stay at their birthplace for the next four to five days to grow and shed their skin for the first time; after that, they are on their own, the mother snake doesn’t protect her young. Massasaugas shed their skin about three to five times per year, and with every molt, they add an extra … Since these spots are rare in the Arizona desertscape, 100 to 200 rattlesnakes may live in the same den. The dark brown blotches present around the sides and the light underbelly makes … They help keep down the rodent population, and in turn, they're a food source for raptors such as hawks. Western Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus) Also known as the sand rattler, the Western Massasauga Rattlesnake is smaller in comparison to its Eastern relative, with short fangs that measure about 4.5-6 mm in length. By Matt Stansberry, Illustrations by David Wilson On a hot, wet morning in May, I jumped into a pickup truck with Brett Rodstrom, Vice President of Eastern Field Operations for the Western Reserve Land Conservancy (WRLC), and headed into the Grand River Lowlands to look for Eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes. Dens are typically located near sunny spots, usually on a south-facing slope. "Massasauga" means "great river mouth" in Chippewa, so named because it is usually found in river bottom forests and nearby fields. Massasaugas like mesic prairies and lowland places, for instance, along rivers, lakes, and marshes. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) is a unique and fascinating part of Michigan's natural heritage.It is Michigan's only venomous snake, and one of only two rattlesnake species that occur in the Great Lakes region. Rattlesnakes are a very important part of our ecosystem.