29 October 2025
In late August Jim Chapman and Pattie Relosky were exploring public land in northwestern Pennsylvania when they were surprised to see a snake basking by the trail. It was an endangered species they had heard of decades ago but never seen: an eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus).
Eastern massasaugas are one of only three venomous snakes native to Pennsylvania. 125 years ago they lived in parts of Butler, Clarion, Venango, Mercer and Armstrong Counties (historic map below). Nowadays, there are only four small populations left out of 19 historic populations in Pennsylvania.
Jim and Pattie stood far away and used their binoculars to look at the snake. Jim zoomed his cellphone camera to take distant photos. The photo at top looks as if he was close but the image was cropped like this.
Fortunately the snake stayed frozen in place until Jim and Pattie left the area. Jim showed his photos to an expert who confirmed the snake’s identity and explained that this one was a pregnant female. Here’s why she was visible.
Pregnant females will choose sparsely vegetated dry areas to bask until they give birth to their young in August or early September. Females reach breeding age at four years and give birth to an average of six or seven young every other year.
— Western Pennsylvania Conservancy: Eastern massasauga rattlesnake
Amazing to me, massasaugas are ovoviviparous, meaning they carry their eggs inside them while the embryos develop and ‘hatch.’ The female gives birth to live young.
If you are lucky enough to see an eastern massasauga in Pennsylvania, keep in mind that it is endangered.
This species does freeze in place to avoid detection, but “if molested or injured the same snake will often strike repeatedly, with great accuracy.” — from Snakes of North America: Eastern and Central Regions by Alan Tennant, Lone Star Books, 2003. So don’t molest or injure the snake
And finally, because they are endangered eastern massasaugas are well studied. Click here to see a young (small) snake being examined by a field biologist (photo from Wikimedia Commons).
A Caution to Commenters: Snakes can be an emotional topic. Please be respectful, stay on topic, avoid offensive and inflammatory language and personal attacks. If you post a comment that could inflame others, I may edit or delete it.
Impressive.
I’ve seen 2 in St Joseph county Michigan
I have seen one in Kalamazoo county Oshtemo township quite a few years ago. Very beautiful snake
Nice, I’ve been helping professor Larry from the U of M trying to population estimate here in southern Jackson county Mi, without any luck and have been looking for 3yrs
I have seen one earlier this year down here in Michigan, we live close to Warren Woods, it seemed shorter an fatter than most snakes, we have 13 acres that have the Galene river runs thru the back end and it’s well hidden from any roads..
I have had two on my farm in Ravenna, Michigan and a while back a young girl from a near by town found a nest and she took one to school she even got bit once but it did not effect her. BiggerHammer
Yep quite a few at Squaw Creek
Must be cousin to Dusky Pigmy Rattler. Very beautiful.
I understand it’s endangered , but humans go hiking sometimes even with children, “is that snakes life more important than humans life”??
George, the snake is rare — hardly any left in PA — and is so shy of people that it disappears and hides when people approach. I’ve hiked at the park alone for 30+ years and never seen one.
Though venomous the massasauga has never killed anyone because it is small (delivering small amount of venom). Fatalities: Pennsylvanians are more likely to die of lightning than snakebite. 2015-2024 Lightning deaths = 7. 2015-2024 Snakebite deaths = 1. It was a timber rattler in 2015 (NOT a massasauga) and the victim died of an allergic to the venom (anaphylactic reaction).
Yes
Absolutely. There are far too many homosapiens these days. If your not intelligent enough to just leave them alone, well. You get the outcome. Those hiking trails, they were the animals home long before they were a human trail. Leave them alone. Or get learned.
It depends on which human, regardless try to remember you’re in the snake’s home, not vice versa.
How about this. You see the snake educate your kids to show the snake the respect it deserves that way everyone feels safe. Us humans aren’t endangered so yes an endangered animal needs more protection than us who have the ability to remove ourselves from a dangerous situation. [Comment has been edited]
These snakes are so rare it’s not likely you or your children will ever run up on one. They are beautiful and easy to see.
I hate Snakes,
If you just keep your distance from them they won’t bother you. They’re not going to chase someone to bite them.
That doesn’t mean you walk through the woods or what have you aimlessly. Your the most advanced creature on the planet…so be careful where you walk. Killing everything isn’t always the answer. [edited]
?
If you leave it alone, it won’t bother you
Children need to learn about them and not be afraid. Caution and education helps us and them.
I believe a lot of people have a fear of snakes because they probably encounter Lucifer in snake form before any real snake. Just a thought…
Very interesting, what other states or countries where these species of snakes exist.
My sister and I came across a large adult Massasauga basking in the sun while stretched across a boggy trail in Portage Bay State Forest campground in the U.P. if Michigan. We had her two springer spaniels with us at the time. They stopped in their tracks barking, clearly alert to the possible danger of this “strange” being laying across the path.
If they bare live young, are the babies immediately poisonous?
Yes they are venomous from birth. Fully formed and read to hunt.
Yes, the young babies are poisonous!
A very rare sight
Seen one of these in Berks County,Pa. in late summer.Amazing looking snake.
We haven’t seen one in Minnesota for many years
I dislike snakes. Don’t care if they’re endangered or not. Been to where there was a lot of poisonous snakes.
This snake has always intrigued me. I have seen only one in my 81 years of life. It was in a live display at the Carlyle Reservoir in southern Illinois. The lighter color had a delightful lavender hue.
That’s an absolutely beautiful snake. I can’t recall that I have ever seen one, but would love to see one in person. Unlike a lot of people I don’t have a fear of snakes. I actually love snakes. I keep them around my place. Because they keep the mice population down. I catch them every now and then, play with them for minute and turn them back loose.
I saw a white Cobra in Kentucky in 1972
Apparently, these snakes can be found in south central to southwestern Wisconsin. Their habitat are a handful of counties away from where I live. Beautiful snake or not…think I’ll move!!
Growing up in Michigan in the 1970s, Ive seen two in north east Kalmazoo County, Richland Township. One in the Camp Grayling area while deer hunting in mid November(1990’s) believe it or not.
Snakes are beautiful if don’t like stay away from them i own 7 snakes. 6 pythons and 1 boa like them more than I do some people
I truly understand your concern about the possibility of the snake biting anyone l think you have the right to protect what’s your at any time. Kill the snake if it must be done.
It looks very similar to a Southern Pygmy rattler.