Rattlesnake babies are shaking things up at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago! Nine eastern massasauga rattlesnakes hatched at the zoo in February. Their birth marks a huge milestone in massasauga rattlesnake conservation: the first birth of their kind at the zoo in nearly a decade.
These baby rattlesnakes are the great grandkids of the last few remaining eastern massasauga rattlesnakes in Cook County, Illinois.
Their population has faced critical threats due to persecution and habitat loss. The zoo, along with state and federal authorities, have been working together for years to conserve this often-misunderstood snake species.
“People tend to fear eastern massasauga rattlesnakes because they’re venomous, but they’re actually a rather shy species and an important part of the Great Lakes region’s ecosystem,” said Curator Dan Boehm.
“It’s always exciting to welcome new offspring of a threatened species, and the fact that this is a local animal we’re actively working to conserve out in the field makes it even more special.”
Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes can be found in wetland habitats around the Great Lakes in the United States and Canada. Measuring at about two feet long on average, this species is on the smaller side for rattlesnakes.
To learn more, visit the Lincoln Park Zoo website.
Read more about snakes in our post, 5 Cool Facts About Snakes.
