Inbreeding Threatens Michigan’s Only Rattlesnake — What It Means for Conservation

If you come across a rattlesnake in Michigan, it’s an eastern massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus), the only venomous snake in the state. They’re relatively small for rattlers, averaging two to three feet long as adults. You’d be lucky to spot one, since eastern massasaugas spend most of their time hidden under logs or brush near wetland