Massasauga rattlesnakes in…

Massasauga rattlesnakes in the Ojibway Prairie Complex are facing the threat of imminent extinction. This subpopulation is estimated to contain a meager 12 individuals. The area in which they reside in currently is a victim of immense pressure from prosecution, habitat fragmentation, and the very real possibility of road mortality. This became very apparent to me while helping to achieve the recovery goal of Massasaugas working on the OPRREC program. These snakes will not survive much longer without more help.

I support the government's stated goal for the recovery of the Massasauga (Carolinian population). It is imperative that the government considers the implementation of population management actions at the Ojibway Prairie Complex and the Wainfleet Bog subpopulations. More specifically, conservation translocations must be considered as a viable method for the recovery of this population. Substantial research has been completed to support this. In the past, other viper species have been captive-bred and successfully translocated from breeding facilities to artificial hibernation sites to supplement the wild population. Massasaugas would benefit substantially from similar methods of translocation.