Massasauga Conservation

The Western Massasauga is a venomous species of rattlesnake that is endangered in Nebraska. It can be 18-39 inches long. It is gray and brown with dark, round brown blotches on the back and other smaller and less-distinct blotches on the sides. It has light and dark bands on the tail. Along the side of the head there are two narrow white lines circling a dark brown band. They have a moderately developed rattle at the end of a stocky tail. They prefer low, swampy areas close to marshes, lakes, and rivers, and usually make their homes and hibernation nests in the burrows of native crayfish. The diet of the massasauga is comprised largely of small mammals, but small birds, lizards, frogs, toads, and other snakes are also consumed. While adults usually feed upon mice, small snakes are an important food item for young massasaugas.

Massasauga are endangered in Nebraska because of the increase of cultivation in their habitat. Massasaugas are found in a grassland habitats, such as tallgrass prairie and grassy fields. They favor moist areas, such as marshland, wet prairies and flood plains. 

Wet meadows provide habitat for crayfish. During the winter months, massasaugas use these crayfish burrows to hibernate. Without the crayfish burrows, many massasaugas do not survive through the winter.

The biggest threat to the species is habitat loss. Habitat loss results from practices such as conversion of grasslands and wet meadows to cropland, draining of marsh habitat and flooding from the construction of ponds and lakes. These actions result in a reduction or elimination in crayfish and their burrows.   Some small man-made lakes can provide proper habitat for crayfish, and thus massasauga rattlesnakes, along shorelines and backwaters.

This map shows the ranges of crayfish and the small range of the Western Massasauga. Since the snakes are dependent on these crayfish in the winter, organizations should lay out plots of land designated for these snakes. Landowners can help conserve massasaugas by managing their prairies for crayfish habitat. Landowners, along with individuals, can report illegal harassment of all snake species to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.  Individuals also can make donations to conservation organizations dedicated to preserving or restoring massasauga habitat and educating the public. People can also get the word out about this species using zoos and social media.

The River Water Basin is a big habitat for these rattlesnakes and provide shelter, food, and water. It is very important to keep this land safe for the rattlesnakes and the species it eats and thrives off of. We can protect this land by emailing representatives and asking for conservation areas to be put into effect in the basin.

The basin provides an unique prairie home for these animals. Without these snakes other species will become over populated and destroy the beautiful habitat that is here.

My action plan is to host a social media campaign to spread awareness of this species. I will create an account and everyday will add a new fact or picture about the rattlesnake in order to grab people's attention. Once I have enough followers and support I will create a Petition to give to our state representatives to conserve and mark off areas so these animals can grow and flourish. I hope to achieve a level of understanding and I want to spread awareness about these animals that most people don't know anything about.

Many states such as Nebraska and Iowa are trying to help this snake. Iowa is also setting up precautions so nobody harms the snake. They have rules to not touch a living massasauga but they do encourage documentation, such as photographs. They also take deceased specimens so they can leave more about the species and what to do for it. Nebraska encourages conservation of prairie marshes, which are the snakes habitat. They also suggest to not plant water loving trees, so that crayfish will have water in the marshes and for their environment.

What is the most concern? The most concern is the diminishing environment for these snakes as prairies are being turned to farmland. If marshes disappear then so will crayfish. If crayfish die off then the Massasauga will have no shelter for hibernation in the winter and will freeze to death. Another concern is that these species are very limited in these states and are not found easily.

Counters may find this topic very unimportant because it is a small snake in Nebraska not many people know about. People may not think it needs protection even though it does. Even if it is not a very known species, each species has an impact in their environment and habitat. Without these snakes, mice and other snake species would become to big to sustain. This is a native snake to Nebraska and Iowa that is very endangered and threatened. While it may be fine in other states it isn't here and needs to be protected so future generations can learn about it and see the snake.

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