GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Months after an endangered rattlesnake was found killed at a University of Michigan garden, a new brood of the species was found there.
The Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum announced that an eastern massasauga rattlesnake was first found in June and her brood was found in late July.
Snake covered by Endangered Species Act killed at Michigan park
The female snake was first found at the edge of a drain, using it for shade. Staff noticed that the snake, dubbed Gertrude or Gertie, was a steady presence there, so they put up signage and construction cones to keep visitors at a safe distance.
In July, a trail cam set up by a volunteer spotted two snakes at the culvert, and then several more.
Unlike most snakes lay eggs, massasaugas give birth to live young. It’s a process called ovoviviparity, where the mothers hold the eggs within their bodies until they are ready to hatch.
“If you’re at the Matthaei, stop by for a respectful look from a safe distance behind the cones,” the gardens said in a blog post.
The eastern massasauga rattlesnake is Michigan’s only venomous snake, but it isn’t much of a threat. The snakes are quite skittish and will rattle as a warning to keep people away. They typically only bite as a last resort.
The eastern massasauga rattlesnake is native to the lower peninsula of Michigan and several other Great Lakes states, but has lost much of its habitat — wet meadows and floodplain forests. The snakes seek out drier sites in the summer.
John Ball Zoo launches effort to preserve venomous snake
The snake was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2016.
A rattlesnake was found dead in March inside the gardens. It was believed to have been killed with a blunt object. A person found liable of violating the Endangered Species Act could be sentenced up to a year in prison and a fine of $50,000.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Comments