Habitat loss has caused eastern massasauga rattlesnakes to become endangered through much of its range, including Illinois. Lincoln Park Zoo works with partners across the country to guide recovery its recovery. Since 2009, more than 900 of these rattlesnakes have been captured, individually identified, and re-released at study sites in Michigan. By monitoring them over time, scientists are able to determine the characteristics that help them thrive, which in turn informs massasauga conservation

Spend World Snake Day with our Reptile of the Month – the eastern massasauga rattlesnake! Native to the wetlands and adjacent uplands of Michigan, massasaugas are the only venomous snakes in the state. Their distinctive skin pattern helps them blend in with their surroundings, allowing them to avoid predators and stay hidden when hunting. Massasaugas prey on small mammals and birds that they can detect with heat-sensing pits, which are specialized organs, on their heads. It is very unlikely for