Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus)

Argent · Aug 10, 2008

Found this monsterous beauty the other day on the side of the trail - I won't forget the sound of his rattle

spalding12 · Aug 10, 2008

scary snake
nice shot

Hentez · Aug 10, 2008

Nice pic, I wouldn't want to get close enough to get the picture!

Argent · Aug 10, 2008

Hehe I wasn't the guy holding the cat tails back so we could see it

I was about 6 feet away and mostly safe

dmwphoto · Aug 10, 2008

very well done. I see these periodically while backpacking/hiking. They are amazing creatures and should be left alone. I have taken some images of them but none as good as this.

Argent · Aug 10, 2008

Thanks

They are protected by the State of Michigan and under consideration for the Federal endangered species list - so this shot was more about identification and observation than anything else - once I got the shot we left him in peace.

CaliShutterbug · Aug 10, 2008

To heck with the shot, I would have been backing away & running the other direction in a split second.

raian · Aug 12, 2008

Oh, that sound gives me goose bumps. I've heard it a few times. Good capture of this guy, good thing you had a long lens, these snakes have a pretty decent reach! Be careful!!!

tojor · Aug 13, 2008

Wow. I'm glad I don't have to look for these when I'm out shooting dragonflies.

Holmes · Aug 13, 2008

Nice find! That's a nice looking example of a species that is indeed in trouble.

Chris101 · Aug 13, 2008

I remember those from my Michigander childhood.

Argent · Aug 13, 2008

for 'rare' snakes - I've seen quite a few of them this season

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Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus)