Goals of the
Massasauga
Rattlesnake
Recovery
Team:
- Provide public education and outreach through distributing resource
materials, facilitating workshops, promoting media coverage, and forming
community partnerships.
- Conduct research to determine global and local status of the species,
define essential habitat requirements, develop habitat maintenance and
restoration protocols, characterize genetic population structure, quantify
life history patterns
and ecology and conduct analyses on population viability, risk assessment,
human dimensions and economics.
- Monitor and manage local populations by implementing long-term
monitoring programs.
- Establish a network of shelter areas by surveying potential habitat
for undiscovered populations, and mapping and protecting habitat of
current populations.
- Improve communications and coordination through collaboration with the
U.S., reviewing and updating the recovery plan as needed, establishing an
internet-based communications network, and reviewing and addressing
legislation and regulation issues.
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THREATS TO THE EASTERN
MASSASAUGA RATTLESNAKE |
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This document will educate readers about the biology and ecology
of the eastern
massasauga rattlesnake, and why the species has declined in such
numbers that
special protection is required. The snake, like many wild species,
is vulnerable to
several types of threats. They can be direct threats, such as the
purposeful killing of
the snakes, and indirect like the destruction of habitat. The
massasauga recovery
team’s formation and the efforts it has put into recovery have
stemmed from these major threats. Through the efforts of the team
and private landowners, some of these threats are being reduced.
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Quarries may disrupt natural areas and may prove detrimental to the
survival of various local species. |
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A
SNAKE AT RISK
Habitat Loss
Habitat loss, which exerts a significant pressure on populations of
the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, occurs largely due to development
activities. The massasauga has highly specific habitat needs, and
unlike some species cannot avoid development by relocating. Rock
quarries/aggregate extraction, wetland drainage, and agricultural
expansion disrupt the snake’s habitat and increase its risk of
mortality.
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