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10 THE OSHAWA TIMES, Thursday, June 17, 1965 SNAKES OF ONTARIO 'Massasauga Rattler' Our Only Venomous wn na we me rate ahs Recep toa lg physician, 1s available in key) centres in rattlesnake territory throughout Canada. A tourniquet is of value in pre- venting the.spread of venom, but it must be properly applied. It should be placed between the bite and the heart: and be tight enough to compress the soft tis- sues, but not tight enough:to step blood circulation. Heat should not be applied, to the bitten area, and alcoholic stimulants should never be given. If possible, the victim should be carried to prevent an * By BARBARA FROOM i Lands and Forests Information Section (Sixth in a Series) MASSASAUGA RATTLESNAKE (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) The massasauga rattlesnake is Ontario's only venemous snake! The large timber rattler that .was common in the Niagara Gorge region many years ago is now extinct in Ontario. Rattle- snakes are the only venemous snakes in all of Canada. Besides Ontario's small mas- saSauga, there is the Pacific rattler in parts of British Colum- bia and the prairie rattler in parts of Alberta and Saskatche- wan. Manitoba, Quebec and the) Maritime provinces are free of rattlers. and © Newfoundland) hasn't any native snakes, Ut HE'S 'A FAT ONE' The massasauga, swamp or little gray rattlesnake, as it is often called, is a_stout-bodied little snake that seldom attains) a length of more than two and} one half feet. The head is broad| and distinct from the neck but it) is not as markedly triangular as| that of the western rattlers. There are nine large, symmet-| rical scales on top of its head | as in harmless snakes. Its nose is blunt. | Like other rattlers, it has a pit on each side of the face be-| tween the eye and the nostril. Organs of temperature aware- ness are located in these pits} which help the snake to detect) plates on the underside of thejsnakes in particular; wear pro- tail (from vent to rattle) of|tective clothing such as leather rattlesnakes are in a single row,\shoes and heavy socks; feel whereas those of our harmless/about with a stick before reach- snakes are in a double row. ing into bushes or gathering RATTLES NOT YEARS wood, and always carry a flash- The rattle is not an indicator light if out at night. of the snake's age as is com-| [f ycu hear a rattler, remain monly believed. A new segment! still, determine the direction of is added with each skin shed-|the sound, then move carefully ding: not each year of life. The| away in the opposite direction-- skin may be shed frequently|jt will not chase or follow you. --s the year, especially in/phe massasauga is not normally he case of young snakes, The| an aggressive snake and it usu-) Lg oA aged ie ogg made ee aly prefers retreat to attack. e s vibrated, causing the " interlocking segments to rub to-) Do not handle a freshly killed rattler as nerve reflex enables gether. It may resemble the it to bite for some time after buzzing of a bee, a cicada or a) 4.1, mechanized wind-up toy. | Rattlers do not always sound) WHAT TO DO a warming prior to striking, nor) If you do have the misfortune is it-necessary for them to coil|to be bitten by a rattler, get to in order to inflict a bite. If|the nearest hospital or doctor handled or accidentally stepped) practising in the locality as soon on, they will simply twist the,as possible. Antivenin, which head and bite. \should be administered by a increase in the blood circulation which would spread the venom. If there would be any delay) in getting medical aid, a snake- bite kit, which contains suction ldevices, an instrument for incis- ing, a tourniquet and an antisep- tie solution, would be useful. Some of the venom can be re- moved by applying the suction! devices. directly to the fang) punctures. Symptoms of rattlesnake bite} include swelling and discolora- tion in the: bitten area, pain, nausea, chills and dizzyness. {Usually two distinct fang punc- |tures are visible but only one fang might penetrate the skin. 'The bites of non-venemous snakes consist of small scratches, joften in the shape of a horse- shor. The venom of the massa jsauga is highly toxic, but the \quantity is small and this ratt- ller's fangs are very short. With The favorite habitat of thej\. massasauga is about swamps and bogs where it can obtain find this rattler swimming some distance from the shore. It may also be found in rocky situations) and in meadows where it searches for mice, The massa- prompt treatment, no one need| die of its bite. | ANIMALS ARE VICTIMS Dogs and cats may also be vietims of rattlesnake bite. They are most frequently bitten. on the face and trunk where en- venomation is particularly dan- gerous. They should receive antivenin injections as soon as possible. | Although rattlesnakes should) not be tolerated close to camp sites and human _ habitation, there is no need to molest them in isolated areas. They are ex- cellent "mousers" and in this way.they, too, play a part in the balance of nature. Snake hunts organized in order to kill as many rattlers as possible, usually achieve the wanton slaughter of more harm- less snakes than rattlers. Also, inexperienced persons seeking out rattlesnakes could them- selves be bitten, perhaps far \from medical aid. ONT. ANTIVENIN DEPOTS Barrie, Royal Victoria Hospi- tal; Bracebridge, Memorial Hos- pital; Chatham Public General Hospital; Collingwood, General and Marine Hospital; Espanola, General Hospital; Goderich, Alexandra Marine and General Hospital; Hamilton, General Hospital; Kincardine, General Hospital; Lion's. Head, Red Cross Hospital; Little Current, St.\ Joseph's General Hospital; London, Victoria General Hospi- tal; Meaford, General Hospital; Midland, St. Andrew's Hospital; Orillia, Soldiers' Memorial 'Hos- pital; Owen Sound, General and Marine Hospital; Penetan- guishene, General Hospital; Parry Sound, General Hospital; eral Hospital; Port Colborne, General Hospital; St. Thomas, St. Thomas-Elgin General Hos- pital; Sarnia, General. Hospital; Southampton, Saugeen Memorial Hospital; Sudbury, District Health Unit; Toronto Provincial Laboratory, Christie Street; To- ronto, Hospital. for Sick Chil- dren; Welland, County General Hospital; Wiarton, Bruce: Penin- sula and District Memorial Hos- pital and Windsor, City Health Department, OVERDOING IT | ROME (AP) -- Poultryman! Domenico Liverani found a hen's egg as big as an orange' and weighing 10.5 ounces in one of his nests. Inside he found an-| other whole egg, shell and all,| and.inside the second egg were | ONTARIO BARBER SHOP 19 Bond St. East Is the place where you get the hair cut for special:accasions or just because you like good haircuts. Latest Addition to the Staff LIVIO Formerly from City Barber Shop who will LIVIO two yolks. | also do hair styling and. tinting. 4 Full Time Barbers well experienced . ... for appointment Telephone 728-2031 Parry Sound, St. Joseph's Gen- ftennt sauga is not averse to dead and even decayed food. Young massasaugas are live-| born from late July to early Sep- tember. There are usually seven or eight in a litter. They are Sti al! OSHAWA Esso Service Centre KING AND PARK STREETS, OSHAWA JOHN T. MARKOVICH, Proprietor EGIAIE : fully equipped with their venom the presence of warm blooded |, paratus and even at this age rey. All rattlesnakes have yer-|)) 0. tically elliptical eye pupils, un.| their bite can be dangerous, like the round ones of Canadian| WHERE FOUND : harmless snakes. Rattlers') In Ontario the massasauga is fangs, which are enlarged teeth, found chiefly along the shores of! are located in the front of the}Georgian Bay to about 2 or 30 upper jaw. They are movable|Miles inland in some places, on and are laid flat against the roof|islands in the Bay, and on the of the mouth when not in use, | Bruce Peninsula, It may also be The forked-tongue of all snakes|found along some parts of the is perfectly harmless and serves|Lake Huron and Lake Erie) as an organ of scent. shores, and is fairly common in) The ground color of the mas- | the Wainfleet Marsh near the sasauga is gray or brownish, | fiortheastern shore of Lake Erie. | rarely black, with a pattern of} Reports of massasaugas far large, dark blotches down the|from their usual localities are middie of the back and three|usually cases of misidentifica- rows of smaller alternating ones|tion. Mottled fox and milk) along each side. 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