Gary, You're right. The Massasauga's range ends part way into NY.
PJ On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 3:58 PM, Gary A Beluzo <[email protected]> wrote: > Paul, > > We have timber rattlesnakes and copperheads associated with several > mountain chains in western MA but I have never heard of massassagua rattlers > in MA. > Most if the dens have been cleared so both snakes are very uncommon and on > the endangered species list. > > Gary > > Prof. Gary A. Beluzo > Systems Ecologist > Holyoke Comm College > 303 Homestead Ave > Holyoke, MA. 01040 > > > On Aug 13, 2009, at 3:29 PM, Paul Jost <[email protected]> wrote: > > Jenny, > > We have timber rattlesnakes and massasauga rattlesnakes here in Wisconsin, > states to the west and south, and all the way east to New York state and > into New England! The most visible snakes in Wisconsin are garter snakes, > but the most common seems to be the smaller northern red-bellied snake. I > rarely see some other species, too. > > PJ > > > On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 1:44 PM, < <[email protected]>[email protected]>wrote: > >> That's pretty cool info. What do we have up north besides gentle garter >> snakes? (and Madoff...) Jenny >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Jess Riddle < <[email protected]>[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]>[email protected] >> Sent: Thu, Aug 13, 2009 12:38 pm >> Subject: [ENTS] Venomous snakes in north Georgia >> >> >> Ents, >> >> The snake pictures amongst the Cohutta photos seem to have generated >> some interest, so I'll add a little more context for them. When I >> used to average four days a week hiking in the southern Appalachians, >> I would typically see only one or two venomous snakes per year. The >> two I saw on this past trip matches my record for a one week period. >> Of course, who knows how many I've walked past in huckleberry >> thickets. >> >> In my experience, the venomous snakes in the Appalachians are not >> aggressive. If you don't mess with them, they won't mess with you. >> The timber rattlesnake in the photograph never rattled even with five >> people and a dog walking past it. I've stepped within a foot of >> rattlesnake without it moving and seen people step as close to >> copperheads without provoking a reaction. I'm sure there is some >> variation from individual to individual, and I've certainly irritated >> some rattlesnakes, so I didn't push my luck with the photographs and >> used my camera's zoom from about five feet away. >> >> Venom is energetically expensive to produce and has a high opportunity >> cost in terms of catching prey. Hence, relying on camouflage (see >> copperhead photo), rattling, or dry biting improves snakes' chances of >> long term survival and reproduction. >> >> Jess >> >> >> >> >> >> > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
