Re: Massasauga snake
[Re: AJE]
#7714552
11/11/22 06:11 AM
11/11/22 06:11 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 31,398 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 31,398
williamsburg ks
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Prairie rattler bite is bad news for humans. Need to get to a hospital. Dogs hogs and horses usually take it pretty good. They den in old Prairie dog holes a lot. They can den in any suitable hole but they are common around dog towns. See them out in the day a lot in spring and fall. Go underground when it gets cold at night then lay out in front of a hole in the sun during the day. Just the opposite in the heat of summer. In summer they often just shade up someplace. Traveling away from the dog town. Prairie dogs are known to bury them. Snakes can not dig a hole. They dont eat adult prairie dogs as they are too big.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: Massasauga snake
[Re: AJE]
#7714554
11/11/22 06:12 AM
11/11/22 06:12 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,911 Firth, Nebraska
jabNE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,911
Firth, Nebraska
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Gary there are pockets east of Lincoln too along the old salt marsh areas. The more the land gets developed though the more they disappear.
Last edited by jabNE; 11/11/22 06:12 AM.
Money cannot buy you happiness, but it can buy you a trapping license and that's pretty close.
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Re: Massasauga snake
[Re: warrior]
#7714674
11/11/22 08:08 AM
11/11/22 08:08 AM
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 12,845 SW Georgia
Wanna Be
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 12,845
SW Georgia
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From the various comments they sound to be similar to their pygmy cousins down here in being somewhat localized in their distribution.
While range maps show pygmies ranging statewide in Georgia you won't easily find them just anywhere. Or at least I've never found one in Central GA. But I'm told by those in the know that when found they can be locally common in those locations. I do know from experience that are more common in south Georgia and Alabama. I can only guess though as to habitat specifics. Interesting. I’ve never seen one nor did I know we even had them here. I figured they were all in North Ga. I will say over the last 10 years or so I see fewer rattlesnakes than in my entire lifetime before that. That’s all I used to see were Diamondbacks, Canebrakes, a few copperheads, and even fewer cottonmouths. I’ll now see maybe 1-2 Diamondbacks or Canebrakes crossing the roads alive, but see many many cottonmouths and hardly any copperheads anymore. That includes private and public lands.
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Re: Massasauga snake
[Re: AJE]
#7714681
11/11/22 08:18 AM
11/11/22 08:18 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 31,398 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 31,398
williamsburg ks
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Saw a roadkill copperhead about a month ago. Had my grandkids with me. County road no traffic so stopped and let them get out and have a good look so they can avoid any live ones they see.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: Massasauga snake
[Re: ZionHeritageFarm]
#7714686
11/11/22 08:22 AM
11/11/22 08:22 AM
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Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 1,964 Pennsylvania
patrapperbuster
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 1,964
Pennsylvania
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Pretty common northwest of Topeka. I never saw one over about 18-20”. This one was next to the foundation of my house. Kinda hard to tell the scale but those are just normal blades of fescue lawn grass. Looking at pic I may have seen one before. But mistook it for a milk snake ??
TILL THAT DAY.....
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Re: Massasauga snake
[Re: AJE]
#7714697
11/11/22 08:36 AM
11/11/22 08:36 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 22,151 The Hill Country of Texas
Leftlane
"HOSS"
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"HOSS"
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 22,151
The Hill Country of Texas
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I had some pasture up in Kansas that I ran yearlings and 2 yr old colts on that had 2 or 3 good springs and those little snakes were everywhere. I'd occasionally see a swollen-up face but I think I only doctored 1 head over the years. I do remember finding one of those little guys sunning out in the Cheyenne Bottoms and I tried to get pictures. He got so peeved he would launch himself at me. Maddest I had ever seen a little snake LOL.
�What�s good for me may not be good for the weak minded.� Captain Gus McCrae- Texas Rangers
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Re: Massasauga snake
[Re: AJE]
#7714950
11/11/22 12:51 PM
11/11/22 12:51 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,912 michigan,USA
seniortrap
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,912
michigan,USA
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Common practice for most all DNR agencies is to promote something that most people don't want.
Does Wolves come to mind? Or Mountain Lions in Michigan and Wisconsin!
Vietnam--1967 46th. Const./Combat Engineers
"Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction." "After the first shot, all plans go out the window!"
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Re: Massasauga snake
[Re: seniortrap]
#7716185
11/12/22 11:54 PM
11/12/22 11:54 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,304 WI - Wisconsin
AJE
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,304
WI - Wisconsin
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Common practice for most all DNR agencies is to promote something that most people don't want. Exactly my thought and concern. I was surprised how much WDNR is trying to increase their population. Yet there are so many other DNR divisions that are underfunded due to budget crunches.
Last edited by AJE; 11/12/22 11:54 PM.
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Re: Massasauga snake
[Re: AJE]
#8094161
03/06/24 10:25 PM
03/06/24 10:25 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 22,151 The Hill Country of Texas
Leftlane
"HOSS"
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"HOSS"
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 22,151
The Hill Country of Texas
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Cheyenne Bottoms would be the farthest west I had seen them but I wasn't out looking for them either. I'd guess a snake in a prairie dog town would be a prairie rattler. The ones we have been talking about wouldn't be big enough to eat anything mu h bigger than a leopard frog.
The way the wind blows in western Ks I doubt you'd hear one buzzing.
Down here, almost half the diamond backs will strike first and tattle later. Keeps a guy scanning the ground.
�What�s good for me may not be good for the weak minded.� Captain Gus McCrae- Texas Rangers
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Re: Massasauga snake
[Re: AJE]
#8094413
03/07/24 10:51 AM
03/07/24 10:51 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,209 USA MN
Snowpa
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,209
USA MN
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Had a cat bitten by one and the fur fell off around the fang marks Lots of swelling ,seen the snake /s swimming along the bank a few times a gray and white pattern .The bridge has rocks from a quarry under and on both sides . This is head waters of the upper Iowa river .
Never Confuse Stupid With Crazy
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Re: Massasauga snake
[Re: patrapperbuster]
#8094600
03/07/24 03:44 PM
03/07/24 03:44 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 5,268 Idaho Falls, ID
Grandpa Trapper
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 5,268
Idaho Falls, ID
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There have been sightings in Butler County PA I lived in PA most of my life and never seen one. I believe, although rare, they are only found in Butler and maybe some adjoining counties in Western PA.
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Re: Massasauga snake
[Re: AJE]
#8094821
03/07/24 08:37 PM
03/07/24 08:37 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,188 S/W Mich.
Dillrod
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,188
S/W Mich.
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As stated earlier . Winter in the bottom lands and move up into the woods for the summers. Not uncommon here . Protected by the state. Early 70's I would find 3-4 every year in my yard. I see a few on the roads dead. I used to save the tails in a kitchen matchstick box. Probably run across it someday.
"Some Domestication Required " Life is an adventure, Don't live it any other way !!
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Re: Massasauga snake
[Re: slydogx]
#8094850
03/07/24 09:26 PM
03/07/24 09:26 PM
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 674 Southaest Kansas
Coyote Clayton
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 674
Southaest Kansas
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That range map is for the "western massasauga". I believe the OP is referring to the eastern variety Read the response’s about none being in western Kansas.
Praise the Lord and Pass the ammunition.
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