SNAKES of Michigan

SNAKE FEATURES:

The internal organs of snakes are slightly modified due to their unique body structure. Many snakes do not have a fully developed left lung.

The fastest snake in Michigan crawls at approximately 4 mph.

A snake's maximum striking range is approximately 1/2 its body length.

Snakes have no eyelids. Their eyes are protected by a transparent layer of skin over the eye.

The Massasauga has organs that look like nostrils on its face called pits. These pits allow the snake to find its prey by sensing the body heat of the prey.

The Massasauga is the only venomous snake of Michigan. The venom is a modified saliva. The Massasauga's venom is not toxic enough to kill most humans however, the venom can cause serious tissue damage in the area of the bite.

The Eastern Fox Snake and the Western Fox Snake vibrate their tails when threatened. This is meant to mimic a rattlesnake and scare off the threat. Unfortunately, this may have an adverse effect if the threatening animal is a human. Many Michigan fox snakes are killed by humans. Both Michigan snake species are protected by Michigan law.

The Northern Water Snake is often miss-identified as a venomous "Water Moccasin". The Northern Water Snake is NOT VENOMOUS.

Due to its decreasing numbers, the Black Rat Snake is protected by Michigan law. It may not be captured or killed.

Kirtland's Snake is protected by Michigan law.

It was once believed that Eastern Milk Snakes sucked milk from cows. In fact, they are often found in barns along with their favorite food - rodents.

Michigan snakes are considered to be beneficial to humans. Most eat "destructive" animals such as insects and rodents.

SPECIES:

BLACK RAT SNAKE
Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta

Blkrat.JPG (6777 bytes)

Size: approx. 6'
Range: southern lower peninsula
Habitat: woodlands; in trees
Lifestyle: arboreal; food = small mammals, birds; egg laying = June to July

BLUE RACER
Coluber constrictor foxi

bluerac3.JPG (7949 bytes)

Size: 4 to 6'
Range: southern lower peninsula; (isolated records of sitings in other areas of Michigan)
Habitat: woodlands; meadows; farms; lakes; marshes
Lifestyle: food = rodents, frogs, snakes, birds, insects; egg laying = June to July

BROWN SNAKE
Storeria dekayi

!brownsn.JPG (5666 bytes)

Size: 9 to 15"
Range: throughout the lower peninsula; upper peninsula = southern area bordering Wisconsin
Habitat: damp habitats; vacant lots; under debris
Lifestyle: active in spring and fall after heavy rains; food = worms; viviparious - snakes are born in July to August

BUTLER'S GARTER SNAKE
Thamnophis butleri

Butler.JPG (10978 bytes)

Size: 1 to 2'
Range: east southern lower peninsula
Habitat: meadows; marshes; lakes; streams; vacant lots
Lifestyle: food = worms, small amphibians; viviparious - snakes are born in July

EASTERN FOX SNAKE
Elaphe vulpina gloydi

Eastfox.JPG (8172 bytes)

Size: 3 to 5'
Range: along the coasts (and slightly inland) of Lake Huron (northmost point = Saginaw Bay), Lake St. Clair, and Lake Erie
Habitat: marshes
Lifestyle: food = small mammals, birds, frogs; oviparous
* See also Species Spotlight on Elaphe vulpina

EASTERN GARTER SNAKE
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

!eastgar.JPG (8435 bytes)

Size: 2 to 4'
Range: throughout Michigan
Habitat: woodlands; meadows; marshes; lakes; under debris; suburbs; damp areas
Lifestyle: food = worms, small amphibians, small fish; viviparious - snakes are born in July

EASTERN HOGNOSE SNAKE
Heterodon platyrhinos

Hognose.JPG (10625 bytes)

Size: approx. 3'
Range: throughout lower peninsula; upper peninsula = Menominee County
Habitat: sandy regions; woodlands
Lifestyle: food = amphibians; egg laying = June

EASTERN MASSASAUGA RATTLESNAKE
Sistrurus catenatus catenatus

!massasa.JPG (8840 bytes)

Size: 2 to 3'
Range: throughout the lower peninsula
Habitat: marshes; swamps
Lifestyle: food = rodents, frogs; viviparious - snakes are born in August

EASTERN MILK SNAKE
Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum

!milksna.JPG (7859 bytes)

Size: 2 to 3'
Range: throughout lower peninsula; upper peninsula = Mackinac and Marquette Counties
Habitat: woodlands; fields; marshes; farms; under debris
Lifestyle: primarily nocturnal; food = rodents; egg laying = June

EASTERN SMOOTH GREEN SNAKE
Opheodrys vernalis vernalis

!smoothg.JPG (5816 bytes)

Size: 12 to 20"
Range: throughout Michigan
Habitat: meadows; grassy areas
Lifestyle: food = insects, insect larvae, spiders; egg laying = June to August
See also: Opheodrys vernalis vernalis - Eastern Smooth Green Snake

KIRTLAND'S SNAKE
Clonophis kirtlandi

Kirtland.JPG (7986 bytes)

Size: 12 to 18"
Range: very southern areas of lower peninsula
Habitat: damp areas; meadows; tamarack swamps; vacant lots
Lifestyle: food = worms, slugs; viviparous - snakes are born in August

QUEEN SNAKE
Regina septemvittata

!quensna.JPG (7532 bytes)

Size: 12 to 24"
Range: southern lower peninsula
Habitat: shrubs; rocky areas; streams; ponds; canals
Lifestyle: somewhat arboreal; somewhat aquatic; favorite food = crayfish; viviparous - snakes born in August

NORTHERN RED-BELLIED SNAKE
Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata

!nredbel.JPG (7909 bytes)

Size: approx. 12"
Range: throughout Michigan with the exception of the southern Michigan border
Habitat: woodlands; meadows; farms; under debris
Lifestyle: food = worms, slugs; viviparous - snakes are born in July to August

NORTHERN RIBBON SNAKE
Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis

Ribbon.JPG (9163 bytes)

Size: 18 to 26"
Range: throughout the lower peninsula
Habitat: grassy areas; marshes; ponds; lakes; streams
Lifestyle: somewhat aquatic; food = small amphibians, small fish; viviparous - snakes born in July to August

NORTHERN RINGNECK SNAKE
Diadophis punctatus edwardsi

Ringneck.JPG (8836 bytes)

Size: 10 to 15"
Range: throughout Michigan
Habitat: damp woodlands; under debris
Lifestyle: food = worms, amphibians, smaller snakes; egg laying = June

NORTHERN WATER SNAKE
Nerodia sipedon sipedon

Water1.JPG (6682 bytes)

Size: 2 to 4'
Range: throughout Michigan (scarce in some areas of western upper peninsula)
Habitat: ponds; lakes; streams; rivers
Lifestyle: very aquatic; food = frogs, fish; viviparous - snakes born in August to September

WESTERN FOX SNAKE Elaphe vulpina vulpina Size: 3 to 5' Range: central and western upper peninsula Habitat: woodlands; sand dune areas Lifestyle: food = small mammals, birds, frogs; egg laying = June to July * See Also: Species Spotlight on Elaphe vulpina

Michigan Reptiles and Amphibians

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