Sistrurus catenatus catenatus • Mating: Polygamous • Peak
Breeding Activity: April and May • Gestation Period: 2-4 months
• Young are Born: Late July through September • Litter Size:
3-19; 8 average • Young: Precocial and are on their own after
birth • Number of Litters per Year: 1 • Migration Patterns:
Year-round resident; young go, on average, less than 0.6 miles
to establish their own territory. • Feeding Periods: Early
morning, late afternoon, or at night • Typical Foods: Small
mammals (short-tailed shrew, meadow vole, deer and white-footed
mice), small snakes, small frogs, salamanders, toads, and young
birds. • Length: 20-30 inches • Ohio Status: Endangered The
Eastern massasauga is a medium-sized, dark-colored, rattlesnake
with 29 to 50 dark dorsal blotches on its gray or brownish gray
body. There are three rows of smaller dark spots on each side of
the body. The snake can be identified by its short (two to three
feet), thick body. The head of this snake is thick and
triangular, with black stripes. Its