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Snakes of Michigan

Because it is so far north, Michigan is not rich in snake species. There are seventeen species in the state, only one of which is venomous (Eastern Massasauga). But we are lucky to have a few of our most impressive species, such as the Blue Racer (Coluber constrictor foxii) and Eastern Fox Snake (Elaphe vulpina gloydi). Hope you enjoy the pics and come away with a better appreciation for these needlessly maligned animals.
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First racer I ever found went up a tree like a squirrel. Here it us about 30 feet up. Can you see it?
First racer I ever found went up a tree like a squirrel. Here it us about 30 feet up. Can you see it?		 Here I am!
Here I am!		 The following Spring, I head back to the same spot. Walk 50 ft from car and see this.
The following Spring, I head back to the same spot. Walk 50 ft from car and see this.		 I actually snuck up on that snake...
I actually snuck up on that snake...
Next week I return with my family. Find five more. When given a chance...
Next week I return with my family. Find five more. When given a chance...		 ...they climb to safety.
...they climb to safety.		 My Adventurous Wife and Racer
My Adventurous Wife and Racer		 Blue Racer Hiding
Blue Racer Hiding
Blue Racer Found
Blue Racer Found		 Blue Racer Caught
Blue Racer Caught		 Eastern Fox Snake (Elaphe vulpina gloydi)...
Eastern Fox Snake (Elaphe vulpina gloydi)...		 ...hoping to make a meal of tree swallows.
...hoping to make a meal of tree swallows.
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Guest 24-Apr-2017 15:08
Lila Kennedy, it could have been what I was brought up knowing as a "puff adder" and I think I know what you are talking about. I grew up in Reed City.
Lila Kinney 31-Aug-2015 18:39
I live in Reed City Michigan. While I was on my walk on the trail behind where I live I saw a snake. I tried to look it up but can't seem to find it in any of the web sights. It is about a foot or so long. It has a hexagon pattern on its body. The color ranges from light tan to medium brown. It shook it tail like a rattle snake. The head was only about a 1/2 inch long. The underside I think was a light tan.
Justin 16-Jun-2013 03:44
I was with my dad when I saw an Eastern Hognose snake. I got multiple video and photos on many cameras and my iPhone. I know it was that snake because of its rare appearance when it flares it's neck like a dang Cobra right at us. It's tongue was blue, and when it flared its neck, the edges that were shown were dark purple. It's nose is gray and really sharp. It was really cool playing around with it. It was about a foot and a half. Really cool snake! E-Mail me if you have anymore added information about this snake, Thanks!
Guest 16-Jun-2013 03:41
I was with my dad when I saw an Eastern Hognose snake. I got multiple video and photos on many cameras and my iPhone. I know it was that snake because of its rare appearance when it flares it's neck like a dang Cobra right at us. It's tongue was blue, and when it flared its neck, the edges that were shown were dark purple. It's nose is gray and really sharp. It was really cool playing around with it. It was about a foot and a half. Really cool snake!
Jane 22-Sep-2012 22:31
Ludington Michigan around hamlin lake, I was walking and almost stepped on a snake. Fatter than a garden snake. It was patterned with colors of green and an orangish gold. It head was shaped to almost look like a graduation cap. it was coiled with its head at attention. Any ideas?
Jane 22-Sep-2012 22:31
Ludington Michigan around hamlin lake, I was walking and almost stepped on a snake. Fatter than a garden snake. It was patterned with colors of green and an orangish gold. It head was shaped to almost look like a graduation cap. it was coiled with its head at attention. Any ideas?
Morgan Bailey 28-Jun-2012 18:45
Hello! Im from Northern Michigan! I recently caught a smaller snake at my neighbors pond. I usually catch garter snakes there and this one was a brown with lighter brown stripes going down towards its belly! Its belly is also like that! I will post the picture and send a link to it! But im very unsure what type it is! HELP!!
Tony Robinson 15-Jun-2012 03:52
Im from Alabama and have seen about every kind of snake around, from coral and king to velvet tail rattelsnakes as fat as your forarm. However, while spending some time near Cadillac i saw a snake of unbelieable color. Indigo blue is the best way to describe it. AMAZING color of blue. It was small, only about 2 feet long and not very thick. It was in the middle of a fairway on a golf course, so it is hard to tell what kind of enviroment it likes. I would really like to know what it was!!!!! The thing was beautiful!!!!! If you care to reply, thanks. t.robinson1199@yahoo.com Thank you!!
Chris 12-Jun-2012 17:35
I have a cabin on 40 acres of land near Kalkaska, MI. Went out today to set up cleaning and generator supplies. I see garter snakes every now and then, they are most common out there. However today....spotted TWO new species I have not seen there before. BOTH inside the cabin. One was stuck in a mouse trap, this looked alot like a milk snake or water snake. Small, with grey and blackish colorings blotted down the body, about 6-8 inches. Released it outside the cabin still alive and fine from the mouse trap, which was amazing. The other one spotted is unknown to me. Much larger. I only got there in time to see it crawling behind some cabinetry so caught only the tail end of it. It was jet black mixed with bright yellow blotches on part I could see. Without seeing the full snake hard to identify. ANY IDEAS? I'm thinking a Fox Snake or possibly some kind of King Snake....FYI: The cabin sits near swamp and wetlands....very wet and swampy areas surround the property. So my next guess would be a water snake of some kind. Will try to get a photo of it this evening if I can coax it out of hiding. Guessing 3ft at least.
Chris 12-Jun-2012 17:32
I have a cabin on 40 acres of land near Kalkaska, MI. Went out today to set up cleaning and generator supplies. I see garter snakes every now and then, they are most common out there. However today....spotted TWO new species I have not seen there before. BOTH inside the cabin. One was stuck in a mouse trap, this looked alot like a milk snake or water snake. Small, with grey and blackish colorings blotted down the body, about 6-8 inches. Released it outside the cabin still alive and fine from the mouse trap, which was amazing. The other one spotted is unknown to me. Much larger. I only got there in time to see it crawling behind some cabinetry so caught only the tail end of it. It was jet black mixed with bright yellow blotches on part I could see. Without seeing the full snake hard to identify. ANY IDEAS? I'm thinking a Fox Snake or possibly some kind of King Snake....FYI: The cabin sits near swamp and wetlands....very wet and swampy areas surround the property. So my next guess would be a water snake of some kind. Will try to get a photo of it this evening if I can coax it out of hiding. Guessing 3ft at least.
Norman 15-May-2012 13:00
Hi, I have lived here in Michigan pretty much all my life. On four different occassions I saw a snake that was very big. It's measurements are about three plus inches in diameter and length was hard to tell because of brush. Colors were black and brown scales. On two occassions it had a much smaller mate with it. A picture of a pair exist at the BFE resteraunt off Lake Michigan drive along the Grand River. What is its name, I gotten different responces. Thanks. Norman
Rich S. 07-May-2012 15:21
I have 14 acers in Lapeer , Mi. sat. i saw a snake in the woods that had little gray dimmons on its back .The snake was brown with some black. it had no raddles . what kind of snake was it?
Guest 13-Jun-2011 19:16
Snake with red and black markings seen around Midland could be an Eastern Milk Snake. Go to michiganherps.webs.com there is picture that could be what your friend saw. The Milk Snake coloration varies from the reddish to tan/brown.
Larry Levy 12-May-2011 16:48
My friend living outside of Midland, MI found a snake on her back deck she says had red and black rings. What kind of snake could that be? Never heard of a Michigan snake with those markings.

Thanks.
Chris 12-May-2011 03:16
spotted a large snake near flat rock area... i'm thinking it was a racer but i would describe it as: solid color, olive- drab/ dark green about 3 feet plus in length. it was in a grassy field near lots of wet land
Rob 08-May-2011 00:02
Hi can I send a picture for you to identifiy a snake I spoted??? my email is rstackpca@yahoo.com thanks
Guest 16-Jan-2011 01:26
A elderly man who once resided on my farm near Bellevue, Michigan, showed me a photograph of a very large racer which was stretched almost over the width of the driveway. (about 7 ft). What was interesting was the snake was in deep snow. Story was that the snake was found in a ravine beginning to consume a mature Cottontail Rabbitt. The photograph was dated March 1955, and was black and white. The man said it was a gigantic Blue Racer, but he may have mistaken it for a Black Rat Snake.
They had killed the snake and photographed it.
Scott 01-Dec-2010 04:13
@Tim
I did some looking, we called them 'puff adders' but I think the actual name is Hog-nosed snake
Scott 01-Dec-2010 04:08
@Tim from grand junction
It sounds like you are describing a puff adder. And not it is not true that only snakes with fangs are poisonous. Some of the most poisonous snakes in the world are non-vipers. (coral snakes, king cobras, etc.) but fortunately, the only poisonous ones in Michigan that are something to worry about are the Missasauga rattlers which are the only one's in Michigan with fangs.
Although just about any snake bite can cause infection and some do contain toxins or bacteria that can make you sick. Puff adders though are pretty much all show.
Karen 08-Oct-2010 02:26
My sister's business (wood molding) has snakes that show up everywhere, This as been going on for years, any ideas what they can do to get rid of them. Several already this Fall.
Guest 19-Mar-2010 20:51
Guest on March 19, 2010
This snake was a Massasauga Rattler
Guest 19-Mar-2010 20:48
GUEST-Today is March 19, 2010 and our grandchildren (ages 6 &3 ) ran across this snake in our backyard. We believe our dog killed it just before we found it.
Vi
Gail 12-Feb-2010 00:01
For those who want to keep snakes away ! I lived in Ohio where copperhead snakes are plentiful. They kept getting into my home. Thinking back when i watched a rattlesnake roundup i remembered what they used to drive them out of caves. It was cans of gasoline. Snakes can't breathe with the gas fumes there so they exit. What i did was saturated some old heavy rags and placed them in some old plastic bowls and placed them in the areas where the snakes where coming in. No more snakes ! Snakes can't breathe with the gas fumes in the air.
Edwin Sanchez02-Jan-2010 19:56
Send the photo to my addy (chainking@mac.com) and we can identify it.

Eddie
Ed 01-Jan-2010 01:25
While on Mackinaw Island we came across a snake... Not sure what kind it is but did get a picture. I am not able to tell what it is. I can pass along a photo if anyone can identify it.

Thanks
Phil 24-Dec-2009 06:33
I used to see blue racers all the time on my dads farm near Muskegon. They prey on garter snakes. They're beautiful but skittish, don't take to humans like some snakes do.
Mario Boccarossa 07-Dec-2009 23:47
I found a snake in the garage. It was about 8 inches long and thin as a pencil. From what I remember, it had black and red squares in a random pattern. Any ideas what kind of snake that might be. Could it be from Michigan, or an exotic pet from one of the neighbors? thanks, Mario
donald doornbos 27-Oct-2009 02:19
we live in woods next to warren woods ,three oaks, discovered a small black snake with very discriptive white diamonds on his back [approx. 14" long] any ideas-rat snake???
Guest 13-Sep-2009 23:12
Wondering if you can identify a snake on my father's property in Frankfort, Mi. It 's main body is copper and it has beige round spots. It will actually follow you around but still keeps a reasonable distance. Full body length is about 3 feet and I haven't been able to find anything that looks like it so far on the web. Thanx for any info
Dani 27-Jun-2009 15:58
We are camping in Petoskey...huge sand pit behind us where the kids found a rather large egg...tan with brown spots...we are thinking a snake egg...any ideas of to identify it?
Mike Young 05-Jun-2009 21:50
I am in White Lake MI and in a woods behind my home. I saw a snake about a foot long shinny brown with white shinny irregular stripes, no rattle. I has on the ground mostly covered with dead leaves. What do you think it is?
R.miner 24-May-2009 13:35
About 20 years ago, while collecting small animals in Au Gres, I found a "mustard" yellow baby snake basking in the road. I have seen and identified all of the species i have ever collected, but to theis day still dont know what kind of snake that was. Any ideas?
Guest 21-May-2009 01:26
what is the name of the snake that stands up like cobra? it is brown and we find them all the time in the christmas tree fields
Jenny 06-Feb-2009 00:39
Dawn, it sounds like a Garter snake, which is completely harmless. i play with them all summer long :]
Dawn 24-Aug-2008 20:01
I just seen a snake in my back yard small reaaly black with a bright yellow strip down the side. Does anyone know what type of snake it is?
Tim from Grand Junction 10-Aug-2008 12:35
I Found a snake in my garage that looks and acts like a cobra(only when approached). It's yellow and black ,. The head turns diamond shape, the body expands and it hisses pretty loud. It sorta looks like the eastern fox snake you have pictured, only about a foot smaller. This one's about 2 & 1/2 feet long. It scared the hell out of me when reaching for the gas can. It kept striking until I backed away. The fangs were missing. 2 questions: Is it true only poisones snakes have fangs? Is this what some of us Michiganders reffer to as "blow snakes"? Thanks, Tim
sharon cook 09-Aug-2008 13:30
Yesterday while weeding my flower bed, I heard a sound that sounded like a baby bird cry. I was over twenty feet away. When I went over to see what it was I saw a snake with its head raised a couple inches and it was making that sound with its mouth open. Its head was bright yellow. I had never seen anything like it. My dog went after it and it climbed up on the deck walk. It was about 18 in long and the rest of the body looked much like a garter snake. Do you know what it could've been?
Rachel 14-Jul-2008 14:14
We had 2 eastern massauguas in our house and they killed my son's puppy. Is there any way to keep them from coming in again? I am worried about the safety issues that it poses. We had them captured and relocated last time...but I would prefer to just keep them out totally!
Mandee 30-Jun-2008 21:30
I live in N. Mich, Kingsley area, I'm on % acres I have seen a snake on my back deck, it was about 18 inch to 2feet long, a dirty green color with a dark diamond shape on the back of it's head with dark stripes going down it's back and it raised up and puffed out it's head a bit. What type was this? nothing I have seen before.
Ruth 13-Jun-2008 21:59
I had a Black & Yellow snake swimming in my fish pond very close to a large gold fish that I fear is now history, I' m afraid to look. Looking at your pictures, it came closest in looks to the "Ribbon Fish". Any idea what it is?
Chris 15-May-2008 12:15
I was walking next to a field on the road when a black snake, 2 orange kind of red stripes down its back struck at me,white belly, and it seemed like a agressive snake. ANY IDEAS?
Edwin Sanchez02-Aug-2007 02:51
Hi Linda, A small red/orange snake in a wet meadow could be one of three species. The most likely are northern brown or red-bellied snakes. See my pBase photos for examples of them. But a more interesting possibility is the Kirtland's watersnake. It too likes wet meadows, is small and has red sometimes on the dorsal (top) surface, but they all have a red belly. Seehttp://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12201-60850--,00.html for more info on this species. Kirtlands are probably the rarest snakes in the state. I assume you saw it in Michigan. In the southern part of the state? That is where all of our Kirtland records come from.
Linda 30-Jul-2007 16:49
I was mowing my horse pasture last week which has a swampy area that I mowed for the first time this year. I came across a small red/orange snake. I can't find anything about it's species in Michigan. Does anyone know what it could be? Thanks!
Mindie 24-Jul-2007 14:24
Puff Adders are not in Michigan, that was an Eastern Hognose Snake that puffs up like a cobra. I have lived in MI my whole life and caught several.
Aaron 30-May-2006 21:14
also you seem to know alot about snakes, is it possible to have a "puff atter" in michigan?? I live near Grand Rapids, in Ada I have blue racers around my house and I have seen a couple of these snakes that puff up like a cobra around also
Aaron 30-May-2006 21:10
I have three of these damn things living in the siding of my house would you like to come catch em' ??
Guest 08-Jan-2005 22:19
nice shots - I had a blue racer as a pet a few years ago, it was very high strung and never got used to handling like a rat snake does. it was also an escape artist that got loose several times and made a few cameo appearances at the worst possible time around the house! They are beautiful when they've just shed.

good to see a fellow snake lover in the reptile-poor morthern midwest!
Bruce Ward07-May-2003 02:43
If I came upon a snake basking in a bush, the only racer would be me, away from the bush at top speed!
Guest 23-Mar-2003 14:17
Nice. I used to catch and watch snakes in west Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
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