The Massassauga Rattlesnake and other Look-alike snakes

You caught no more than a brief glimpse of the snake but the bold, blotchy pattern along its back could only have belonged to a Massasauga Rattlesnake. Right? Maybe not. The Massasauga Rattlesnake is a secretive reptile and, depending on where you live or vacation in Ontario, you may have come across one of the snake's look-alike relatives - the Eastern Hognose, the Eastern Milksnake, or the Northern Watersnake. Read on.

The Massasauga Rattlesnake
The Massasauga Rattlesnake is Ontario's only venomous snake. At risk of becoming endangered, it is designated as "Threatened" by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). It lives around swamps and bogs in four areas of Ontario: eastern Georgian Bay, the Bruce Peninsula, the Wainfleet bog and the Ojibway prairie complex in Windsor. It gets its name from the Chippewa word for "great river-mouth" and can swim.

This snake is a venomous but timid animal. It avoids detection and often hides under shrubs, ferns and slabs of rock. It can grow to 70 centimetres in length and is grey or black with large dark blotches along its back. Its belly is black. Stout and slow moving, this snake will rattle if threatened - a clear warning to keep your distance. The rattle can fall off, so it is not a sure means of identification.

When threatened, the snake may coil and strike, but it can only lunge one third of its body length. The snake can control the amount of venom it injects. A bite from a Massasauga Rattlesnake will often leave two distinct fang marks, but may also result in a single fang puncture.

People are sometimes bitten on the hand or upper body while climbing. Since a bite from a Massasauga Rattlesnake can be very painful and even life threatening, seek immediate medical attention. The bite victim should remain calm and keep movement to an absolute minimum. Anti-venom treatment is often used to treat bites.

If you see a Massasauga Rattlesnake while hiking a trail or rock climbing, it's best to give it lots of space - both you and the snake will then avoid any harm.

Eastern Hognose Snake
This non-venomous snake grows to between 50 and 70 cm in length. It is olive-coloured with dark blotches along its body, and has a yellow belly. Its distinctive upturned nose is a good identifier.

The Eastern Hognose Snake lives in areas of sandy soil and in dry woods in southern Ontario, and feeds mainly on toads. It is a species at risk and is designated as "Threatened" by COSEWIC.

This snake uses several defensive ploys when threatened. It may rear up and hiss while expanding a "hood" on its neck like a cobra. It also vibrates its tail. It may strike, but it will almost never bite a human. These displays can create the impression that this snake is venomous, even though it is not. If these tactics do not scare the predator away, it will lie on its back and play dead. If it is flipped back onto its belly, it will roll back into the "dead" position much like a possum.

Eastern Milksnake
Reaching 60 to 90 cm in length, this non-venomous snake is grey with red or brown saddle-shaped blotches outlined in black along its back. It has a glossy appearance and its head is marked with a
" Y"- shaped blotch. Also a species at risk, this snake is designated as "Special Concern" by COSEWIC.

The Eastern Milksnake's vivid coloration, narrow head and round pupils differentiate it from the Massasauga Rattlesnake. Also, the Milksnake is about the same diameter for the most of its body length, except the tail. In contrast, the Massasauga Rattlesnake has a broad head that is clearly distinct from the neck.

The Milksnake lives in clearings, fields, farmlands, rural gardens and suburbs. It is a constrictor and feeds mainly on mice.

When this non-venomous snake is frightened, it can make a buzzing noise by vibrating its tail against something, for example dry leaves. It does not have a rattle.

Northern Watersnake
This snake reaches 60 to 105 cm in length and is non-venomous. However, it is sometimes aggressive and can give a painful bite if threatened. It is brown or grey with black bands on the neck and square blotches towards the tail. It has a stout body and a relatively large head with broad jaws.

The Northern Watersnake is common in central Ontario and spends most of its time in a relatively small area. It is an excellent swimmer and is usually seen in the water or near the water's edge. It sleeps and hibernates on land.

Adapted from The Snakes of Ontario booklet, published by the Ministry of Natural Resources in 1967, and revised in 1981, with updates by Sue Russell, Information Officer, Ontario Parks Species at Risk program.