ANN ARBOR, MI -- It's been a few weeks since a family of massasauga rattlesnakes was discovered in a culvert at the University of Michigan's Matthaei Botanical Gardens, capturing the attention of nature enthusiasts this summer.
Now, as the snakes make their way through nature, representatives for the UM-based reserve encourage visitors to observe the rare species' habitat -- from a respectful distance -- before they hibernate.
"We're thrilled at how much these special snakes have captured the public's imagination!" Kerry Sprague, a spokesperson for the botanical gardens and Nichols Arboretum, said in an email Friday, Aug. 15.
"Since their time at the culvert, Gertie and her young have moved on, likely making their way toward the floodplain in search of crayfish burrows for the winter."
According to a July 29 blog post, the UM garden reported a massasauga rattlesnake started to frequent a culvert drain in Matthaei's Great Lakes Gardens in June likely for its shade and was later "spotted there day after day."
Once a fixture, the gardens named her Gertrude, or Gertie for short.
Michigan's only venomous snake species, the massasauga is classified as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
To help protect Gertie amid a "constant presence close to the trail," gardens staff set up construction cones and signage to let the public know she was near, according to the blog post. A volunteer set up a trail camera outside the culvert to capture footage when movement was detected.
Sometime later, two heads were spotted, and then, there were many.
Although other snake species lay eggs, according to the botanical gardens, massasaugas give birth to live young, developing eggs within their bodies until they're ready to hatch.
Gertie was reported to give birth to a brood of snakelets Monday, July 28.
In a Facebook post on Aug. 6, the gardens referred to the occasion as a reminder of the "impact of steady, careful restoration and stewardship," and that the snakes' presence was a "meaningful sign of healthy, resilient ecosystems."
Gertie's species typically give a small warning rattle before they strike, and their bite can be deadly if not treated properly.
"Massasaugas are shy and non-aggressive, but they will defend themselves if approached," Sprague said Friday. "As a federally threatened species, it's both illegal and harmful to harass or injure them."
The Matthaei Botanical Gardens celebrated snake species earlier this summer with outreach messaging amid "Snake Week."
A UM natural areas specialist toured the gardens in a July 15 Facebook video, showing the massasauga habitat along Willow Pond, as well as the crayfish burrows they use for winter hibernation.
Then, there was a search for snakes in the garden's upland prairies, where they spend the summer hunting for meadow voles and other small creatures. After lifting a few metal monitoring boards, one snake was found coiled in the tall grass.
For more information about the gardens and arboretum, including Gertie and local massasauga snakes, visit https://mbgna.umich.edu or www.facebook.com/mbgna.