Michigan's Ghost Snake: The Ecological and Cultural History of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Introduction: The Peninsula Paradox

The Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus), a small, thick-bodied pit viper, holds the unique distinction of being Michigan’s only venomous snake.¹ Within its broad North American range, which stretches from southern Ontario to Iowa, the species has suffered a precipitous decline, primarily due to habitat loss and human persecution.⁴ This decline has led to its listing as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2016.⁵ Amid this widespread crisis, the state of Michigan is consistently identified as the species’ last true “stronghold,” harboring more populations than any other state or province.⁵