Types of Snake Species in Michigan | Animals - mom.me Types of Snake Species in Michigan Reaching lengths of up to 8 feet, the black rat snake is the largest snake in Michigan. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images Seventeen species of snakes live in Michigan. Smaller species feed on worms and insects; larger ones eat birds and their eggs, as well as frogs, rodents and other reptiles. Since snakes are cold-blooded creatures who rely on the environment to regulate their body temperatures, they spend the harsh Michigan winters lying dormant underground. Snakes are found throughout the state in all habitats ranging from natural wooded areas to suburban backyards. Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes Eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) are the only venomous snakes living in Michigan. Although their bite is not deadly, anyone bitten by one of these snakes should seek prompt medical attention. These rattlesnakes are not common but may be found in swampy or marshy areas throughout the Lower Peninsula. No venomous snakes are native to the Upper Peninsula.

Eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes can be most easily distinguished from harmless snakes by their eyes, which have catlike elliptical pupils rather than the round pupils of other snakes. Garter and Ribbon Snakes Aside from the rattlesnake, all other Michigan snakes are nonvenomous colubrid snakes. Garter and ribbon snakes are classified in the Thamnophis genus, one of two genera of colubrid snakes in the Natricinae subfamily. These medium-size snakes typically have stripes down their backs and grow to between 2 and 4 feet in length. Three species or subspecies of Thamnophis snakes live throughout both peninsulas: Butler's garter snake (Thamnophis butleri), the common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) and the northern ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis). They are the most common snakes in the state. Water Snakes Water snakes in the Nerodia genus are the other genus in the Natricinae subfamily, and two species of water snakes live in Michigan.

Northern water snakes (Nerodia sipedon) are the more common of the two species, living along the shores of lakes and streams. They grow to between 2 and 4 feet in length. Copper-bellied water snakes (Nerodia erythrogaster neglect), as their name suggests, have bright reddish-orange bellies that contrast with their dark brown or black backs. They grow to between 4 and 5 feet in length, making them one of the largest snake species in Michigan. The state lists them as endangered, and the species is considered threatened throughout the United States. Other Colubrid Snakes All other Michigan snake species are members of the Colubrinae subfamily of colubrid snakes. All species are nonvenomous; they kill their prey by constriction.

Michigan species and subspecies include the blue racer (Coluber constrictor foxi), Kirtland's snake (Clonophis kirtlandii), the ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardii), the queen snake (Regina septemnittata), the eastern hog-nosed snake (Heterodon platirhinos), the red-bellied snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata) and the smooth green snake (Liochlorophis vernalis). Colubrids in the Elaphe group are the largest snakes in Michigan, including the black rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta) and two species of fox snake (Elaphe valpina and Elaphe gloydi). The remaining colubrid species, eastern milk snakes (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum), are often misidentified as eastern Massasauga rattlesnake because of their rattling tails and blotchy scales. Like all colubrids, however, they are nonvenomous and harmless to humans.

10 Amazing Purple Animals | Animals Zone 10 Amazing Purple Animals September 30, 2010 1. Violet Sea Snails The Violet sea snail is one weird gastropod. Its lovely lavender shell is paper-thin and fairly fragile – not really a problem because it spends its entire life floating on the surface of tropical oceans. It manages this by whipping up a froth of bubbles with its foot, then sealing the bubbles in mucus to form a foamy raft. 2. Purple Beetles In most cases, beetles that appear to be purple display this hue by virtue of iridescence. These beautiful, jewel-like insects display purple hues along with shades of blue and green. 3. Purple Emperor Butterfly Purple Emperors are large butterflies found in southern England, most of continental Europe and in northern Asia as far east as Korea. Purple emperors normally live in forest treetops but males will descend to the forest floor and to roadsides in search of mineral salts. Sources for these essential salts are fresh animal dung or puddles infused with road salt. 4. Purple Starfish Starfish are a varied order of creatures that sport a surprisingly varied range of colors, including some striking hues of purple and violet.

It may be that the blue-green tint of seawater screens out some of the redder wavelengths of sunlight, therefore making a starfish that looks purple on dry land much more elusive when viewed underwater. 5. Orchid Dotty Back Orchid Dottybacks are popular aquarium fish and it’s no wonder why: though it only grows to a length of 2 inches (5cm), they add a jolt of brilliant violet to any indoor seascape. Keep in mind, however, that dottybacks are carnivorous and need a steady diet of meat (shrimp will do) to thrive in captivity. 6. Indian Purple Frog A bizarre purple burrowing frog discovered in 2003 doesn’t just look unlike any other frog, it is unlike them, having split off from a common ancestor approximately 130 million years ago. The frog, Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis, shocked biologists into awarding it status as a new species in a wholly new family of amphibians. Nasikabatrachus lives in the Western Ghats region of southern India.

The bulbous, bloated, pointy-snouted frog bears the distinction of being the first new family of amphibians to be discovered since 1926. One of the frog’s more unusual features are its turquoise-rimmed tiny eyes… the better to see you with? 7. Indigo Snake The Eastern Indigo Snake is North America’s longest snake, though some rattlers can outweigh them. At up to 10 feet (3.05m) long, these Colubrid snakes make an instant impression. As big as they are, few people are familiar with the Eastern Indigo Snake or its southwestern relative, the Texas Indigo Snake, which often does not work to the snake’s advantage and that’s unfortunate: these snakes are immune to rattlesnake venom and will often take on rattlers… for lunch. 8. Purple Martin Purple Martins are among America’s best loved birds, and they seem to like us as well. So thoroughly have these largest members of the Swallow family taken to the multistory Martin “apartments” homeowners have set out for them that they prefer living in them to more natural woodland nesting places. 9.

Pete, the Purple Squirrel Squirrels aren’t naturally purple, so when a certain Grey Squirrel appeared sporting a distinctive, violet-tinged coat, naturally it attracted a lot of attention from British park-goers. The squirrel, quickly dubbed “Pete”, was seen by a number of witnesses in and around the grounds of Meoncross School in the town of Stubbington, Hampshire, UK. 10. Pelusa, the Purple Polar Bear Though the name is not an official one, it is one that reflects the normally snow white bear’s current abode at the Mendoza, Argentina, zoo. According to Julio Alvarez, a veterinarian at the zoo, “At the moment and for a few days longer Pelusa will look purple because we’ve applied an ointment as a treatment for skin problems.” This really is a extremely important issue that a lot more people today must be mindful of. The more individuals applying this data the better. Many thanks for blogging about this.. I am a huge fan of this web site! yeabuddy313 I never knew there was a purple squirrel! Lisa Georgette Garter Snake Garter Snake WIN LearnAboutNature.com Great Site Award! All family-safe sites can apply.

Animals > Snakes > Garter Snake Garter Snake - Photo by: Jason Quinn Scientific Classification Species: C. constrictor Binomial name: Coluber constrictor The Garter snake belongs to the Colubrid genus. They are fairly distributed through North America. You can find them in the panhandle of Alaska and you can see them in Central America. Colubrid snakes are the most extensively distributed reptiles genus in North America,. The garter snake is quite a celebrity. It is the state reptile of Massachusetts. Anatomy Garter snakes exhibit high variation in color patterns. There are three light colored stripes running along the length of the body against a background color of brown, black, olive or gray. Coast Garter Snake - Photo by: Steve Jurvetson The color of the stripes also varies. They can be yellow, white, green, blue or brown. There is a central stripe that that runs along the back of the snake. The other two stripes are on either side of the central one. In the case of some snakes, the stripes may be poorly defined or even absent. Some garter snakes have rows of very dark spots that alternate and run alongside the stripes. They look like light checkerboard designs.

The head of the Common Garter Snake is broader than its neck The heads are uniformly dark. They have red tongues with black tips. They have keeled scales, meaning you find raised ridges along the length of the scale. The throat, chin and belly conform to the color of the stripes, which can range from yellow to white., green, blue or brown. Garter Snakes (the common variety) grow to lengths of 46 to 137 centimeters. Generally, the males are smaller than the females. But they have longer tails. Young garter snakes measure 12.5 to 23 centimeters at birth. They resemble the adults in appearance. There are dozens of regional, recognized Garter Snake populations with distinctive color patterns. Common Garter Snakes resemble their close relatives, the ribbon snakes and Butler’s Garter snakes in appearance, Behavior Garter snakes have very complex systems of Communications involving the use of pheromones. They can find other snakes by following the pheromone trails made by them. The skin pheromones produced by the males and the females are very different, and one can distinguish them immediately.

The surprising fact is that male garters can often produce female hormones in addition to their own male hormones. This ability fools other males in the mating season who think they are females, and promptly attempt to mate with them. This is no freak of nature. This blunder on the part of the other males allows the transfer of heat to the trickster through Kleptothermy (Heat steals). In other words, Kleptothermy is a form of thermo-regulation seen in reptiles and birds (as well as some mammals). When birds or animals huddle together for warmth, it is kleptothermy of the voluntary kind. The kleptothermy used to garner heat by the garter snake male is certainly certainly involuntary. This is more beneficial immediately after hibernation, when they simply need heat to become active. Male snakes that produce both male and female hormones have been noticed to be sexually more active when females enter the melee for mating. A Garter snake, when threatened, may coil its body and strike. The typical behavior is to flail (swish) its tail and hide the head. It also discharges a bad smelling, musky secretion from a cloacal gland, to discourage predators.

Garter snakes use these and other techniques to escape from the predators. If a predator on land chases them, they will just get into the water quietly. The main predators of the species are Hawks And Crows Among The Birds, crayfish, Raccoons, other snakes like the king snake and the coral snakes, shrews and believe it or not, frogs which eat the juveniles! Habitat Garter snakes are distributed all through North America. Common garter snakes are the only species of snake that you can find in Alaska. They are possibly one of the most northern species in the world, with the probable exception of Crossed VipersThe reasons for the wide distribution of this genus is that these species are not very discriminating as far as diet is concerned. The second reason is their very high adaptability to different land-forms and biomes with varying closeness to water bodies. The garter snakes that we come across in western parts belonging to North America are certainly more aquatic than the ones in the eastern parts. Even in the matter of hibernation, we can notice the divergence. They hibernate in very large groups in the northern parts, while the groups are much smaller in southern populations.

As a Pet Garter Snake - Photo by: Christian Cantrell Snakes are fascinating reptiles and can become really tame with careful handling. It does not mean that snakes are the proper pets for everyone. Snakes are unique creatures with unique requirements. If you possess the commitment to understand their needs, you will make an ideal keeper of pet snakes. There are a few things to consider before you decide on keeping snakes. Understand that you are about to make a long term commitment. Most snakes have fairly long life spans and may live up to twenty years. You must be ready and willing to provide prey animals for their food. Pre-killed, frozen pray would be less messy and altogether a better idea. You may well have to make room in your freezer for frozen rodents and the like. Snakes are very good at escaping. Give them a little gap and they will slither out. Keeping large snakes that constrict and venomous ones would not be a very good idea. How to Choose Your Snake Suppose you decide to keep a garter snake as a pet, try to get one bred in captivity from a well-known snake breeder. Wild caught garters are more prone to stress and disease as well as parasites. They are rather tough to tame.

You can ask for feeding demonstrations. This will ensure that your pet will eat frozen, pre-killed creatures and that there is nothing wrong with its appetite. Breeding Garter Snakes start mating in spring as soon as they come out of hibernation. The males are the first to leave the dens and lie in wait for the females, and promptly surround them when they come out. . The males release the pheromones which make them irresistible to the females. After choosing her mate and mating, the female goes back to her summer habitat to look for food and the right birth place. The males linger on in the hope of finding new mates. The females possess the ability to store the male sperm until it is needed. The females are very choosy and will not mate if she does not find the right mate. Female Garter Snakes are not egg layers. They will nurture the young ones inside their bodies till birth. The newborns spend only a very brief period (a few hours or a couple of days) with the mother. The mother does not give them any parental protection after birth. Housing A vivarium made of wood can suit your Garter snake pet rather than glass tanks or plastic ones..

Wooden vivariums are better insulated so that heating can be properly arranged. Escapes are unlikely unless you leave the door open. These vivariums allow more privacy since they have a single glass only in front. You would do well to provide a 24” vivarium for a hatchling. When your pet reaches one year of age, you can go for a 36” vivarium If you put very young snakes into a large vivarium, they tend to become stressed and refuse to eat food,. Garter snakes are basically very active. Once they settle, they would relish large vivariums. Remember to give fresh water to your snake every day. The water bowl must be big enough to allow the snake to submerge itself in the water. If the bowl is big enough, some snakes would readily swim. If you use very big bowls, make sure that you have adequate ventilation in the vivarium. Otherwise, your pet could develop respiratory and skin problems. Food Like all snakes, Garter snakes are carnivores. They will eat almost any creature they can overpower. The list can be quite exhaustive.

Ants, amphibians, crickets, earthworms, frog eggs, lizards, leeches, minnows, rodents, toads and slugs. They will eat aquatic creatures if they happen to live near water. The ribbon snake has a particular liking for frogs and tadpoles in spite of their potent chemical defense systems. They swallow food whole. Garter snakes being highly adaptable, take whatever food wherever they find it. As a rule, they eat animals live. Occasionally, they may consume eggs. The garter snakes diet in the wild has a lot of variety. They include amphibians, small rodents, fish and earthworms. In captivity, you can offer them frozen whole fish and small mice. Remember to supplement their diet with vitamin powder, since freezing could destroy thiamin. You can feed your snake every week. Make sure that the prey is no bigger than the snake’s largest part. Snakes do not use energy to keep the body warm like mammals do. Naturally, they require only a little energy to properly function. You must not feed very large prey or feed them frequently’ The result will be that the snake will grow fast. The head will not grow at the same rate.

Obesity can be a severe problem even for snakes! If you overfeed the snakes, they will become indolent and this could be very bad for their health. Snakes may not feed when they are molting or shedding. Handling Most garter snakes, especially captive-bred ones, are docile and they are not averse to handling. Just pick them up gently and let them explore your hands. Our articles are free for you to copy and distribute. Make sure to give credit for the article. What Kind of Snake Is Black & White? What Kind of Snake Is Black & White? What Kind of Snake Is Black & White? May 12, 2011 By: G.D. Palmer North America is home to a wide variety of snake species, most of which are members of the non-poisonous Colubrid family. Many of these snakes are black or very dark brown with white or light-colored markings. Learning to identify these creatures can be an interesting project. Several black and white snakes are common throughout the United States. California king snakes have distinctive white bands. Eastern Garter Snake Eastern garter snake.

This snake is usually between 18 and 26 inches long, but some exceptional specimens can get up to 49 inches in length. Garter snakes tend to have dark gray to black bodies with three light yellow to white stripes running down their length. A few unusual snakes have checkered bodies and a blueish or reddish tinge. These snakes are active both during the day and at night and eat worms, frogs, toads, fish, tadpoles and slugs. They are common in wet environments, such as near streams or ponds, and are not dangerous. Black Rat Snake The black rat snake. The black rat snake lives from the east coast through midwestern North America. It has a black body with a white chin, though hatchlings may be pale gray, marked with black blotches. Over time, this snake darkens, and can grow to be 4 to 6 feet long. As its name implies, black rat snakes eat mice, small rats and other rodents. They are also willing to consume small frogs, lizards and young birds and their eggs. This relatively shy snake freezes when it encounters humans. It may also produce an unpleasant smell or rattle its tail in leaves to imitate a rattlesnake.

If provoked, black rat snakes may bite, but do not do much damage. California King Snake California king snake. Popular in the pet trade, this subspecies of the common king snake has a black or dark brown body with white or yellowish rings. Some specimens are very striking and have high-contrast scales. A few individuals have stripes running down their length, or broken white splotches instead of rings. Like black rat snakes, California king snakes vibrate their tails when disturbed. They may also roll into a ball and hiss loudly. This snake eats a wide variety of prey, including rodents, amphibians, birds, insects and other snakes. Gopher Snake Gopher snake. This blotched brown and cream or black and white snake is native to western North America, and lives in a wide range of habitats, including forests, deserts, fields and prairies. These snakes can be quite large, growing between 6 and 9 feet long. Their speckled scales superficially resemble those of rattlesnakes, and gopher snakes may be mistaken for them, since they also mimic rattlesnake behavior. However, these solitary snakes are actually important in controlling rodent populations and tend to hide from humans.

When disturbed, gopher snakes can inflict a painful bite. Southern Black Racer Southern black racer. This snake looks much like the black rat snake, with a black body and white chin. However, black racers are usually smaller, and tend to have more white markings than rat snakes. Juveniles are white to gray with brown or black spots. This nervous snake will readily bite in its own defense, though it causes little damage. Like other species, it vibrates its tail in imitation of rattlesnakes when disturbed. Black racers eat rodents, lizards, other snakes, birds and their eggs and frogs and other amphibians. Queen Snake Queen snake. This relatively small snake grows to be 1 to 2 feet long and has a dark gray, black, brown or olive body with a single white to yellow stripe on its underside. Queen snakes have a reddish belly with two rows of dark spots running its length. These aquatic creatures eat mostly crayfish, but will also consume water bugs, fish and tadpoles. They bask under rocks and logs close to the water. Queen snakes are relatively shy and live primarily in the eastern to midwestern United States. Like cute animals?

Follow Cuteness.com on Facebook for more AWWs and LOLs. Related Articles 1000+ images about Colubrid Crazy on Pinterest | A snake, Indian art and Snakes Forward Strawberry Motley Corn Snake Necklace by *IllusionTree on deviantART. Love this artist's reptile necklaces. They are gorgeous, the only thing I would change is what they are wrapped around. I am not in love with the clear crystal, I liked the blue and black ones, but my favorites would probably be marbles, if she did them. See More Types of Snakes in North America | Trails.com Types of Snakes in North America Tweet There are five types of snakes that inhabit North America. These types have different characteristics and are classified according to such things as the presence of certain structures in their bodies, where they are found and whether they are poisonous or not. Of the five types of snakes found in North America, the group with the most individual species are the colubrid snakes, which include many harmless types that are quite familiar to the average person. Colubrid snakes The colubrid snakes are by far the largest group of snakes in the world and in North America.

There are 102 species of this type of snake in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. Colubrid snakes lack what are known as vestigial hind limbs, which are best described as the skeletal evidence of what used to be legs on snakes. As snakes evolved over time, they went from lizard-like creatures with hind legs to their present form, with some types still showing all that remains of what were once those legs in the form of small bumps inside the frame of their skeleton. Most colubrid snakes have only one lung but some species have two, or a much smaller one accompanying a larger lung. The colubrid species are mostly average-sized snakes and include such common snakes as the garter snake, the rat snake, the corn snake, the eastern racer and the hog-nosed snake. These snakes feed on insects and small animals such as frogs, toads, voles and mice for the most part and pose no threat to humans. Blind snakes The most primitive of snakes that live in North America are the slender blind snakes of the family leptotyphlopidae. These snakes do have vestigial hind limbs and lack the ability to see, with their eyes covered by scales and resembling a tiny dot.

The slender blind snakes live underground the majority of the time and dine on insects such as ants and termites. The Western blind snake and another type called the Texas blind snake are the two from this snake family found in North America, living in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. They are almost worm-like in appearance and rarely exceed 16 inches in length. Boas & Pythons Two more species of North American snakes fall under the boidae family hierarchy. This family includes the pythons and the boas, a family that contains many of the world's largest snakes, such as the anaconda and rock python. Although most of the boas live where the temperatures are warm, in North America one of the two species--the rubber boa--has a range that extends all the way from Mexico north into Washington State in the U.S. and as far as British Columbia in Canada. The rosy boa prefers much warmer climates and is found in southern Arizona, California and into Mexico. Boas have two lungs, jaws that open wide to swallow food and vestigial hind limbs.

Venomous snakes A venomous snake that possesses a set of fangs in the front of the mouth, the members of the family elapidae found on North American soil include coral snakes and the yellowbelly sea snake. These types are related to the cobras of Asia and Africa and kill and/or paralyze their prey by biting it and injecting venom. This family of snake has many of the same characteristics as the colubrids do and their diet consists mainly of other types of snakes. The other venomous types of snakes in North America belong to the viperidae family. These extremely developed snakes have sensors called pits that detect heat. They lie between the snake's nostrils and its eyes and give these snakes the name "pit vipers." The eyes have an oval shape to them and the fangs that deliver the poison are hinged and fold down when not deployed. The many kinds of North American rattlesnakes including the cottonmouth and the copperhead all are viperidae. Resources Enature website Article Written By John Lindell John Lindell has written articles for "The Greyhound Review" and various other online publications. A Connecticut native, his work specializes in sports, fishing and nature.

Lindell worked in greyhound racing for 25 years. Colubrid Snakes | Pet Age Colubrid Snakes By: John Mack March 31, 2015 Snakes have been a source of great fear and anxiety for countless people worldwide for centuries. We, however, ask, “Why?” Snakes have proven time and again to be fascinating, unique creatures that can be ideal pets, which should help allay trepidation about these misunderstood animals. And, of course, snakes provide a unique point of sale for a pet store owner who can properly capitalize on our legless friends’ popularity. The most common category of snakes seen within the pet trade today are known as colubrids, members of the scientific family Colubridae. Encompassing nearly two-thirds of currently known snake species, colubrids include corn snakes, milk snakes, king snakes, garter snakes and numerous other individual species. Corn snakes are often the most popular selling colubrid in stores nowadays, followed by king snakes and milk snakes. Within each species, however, numerous unique colors and patterns are available, providing a great deal of variety for your customers.

In terms of personality, the three most prevalent species of colubrids vary greatly, which may influence your choices in sales. Corn snakes are often seen as fantastic beginner snakes. One of our former colubrid managers often referred to them as the “Labrador retriever of the reptile world” for their overall friendliness. In contrast, milk snakes tend to be much shyer, often recoiling from human contact. In fact, a milk snake’s typical coloration greatly resembles that of the venomous coral snake, an evolutionary development meant to deter animals from coming nearby. King snakes tend to walk the median between their compatriots, though they can be perceived as aggressive; however, in most cases, it’s just their natural feeding response. One of the most overlooked strategies for stocking snakes, particularly colubrids, is to include picture tags of given animals next to their enclosures. An accurate picture can turn the shyest of snakes into an interesting “Where’s Waldo?” game for customers. This can be especially true if you position the hides within the snake’s enclosure such that visibility is oriented toward the customer. Done properly, your snakes can enjoy being hidden while still being visible to a would-be pet owner.

One thing to be aware of, though, in terms of feeding and care, is that many colubrids do in fact eat other snakes. King snakes and milk snakes, in particular, are known as opportunistic feeders and will attack other snakes (even those of their own species) if hungry. Always keep individual snakes in their own enclosures. Your best bet as a store owner is to focus on the residual sales resulting from a given pet sale. While many retailers attempt to mark up a pet numerous times over in order to make a profit, more significant profits stem from the sale of subsidiary material such as substrate, heating elements and food. Colubrids fit this concept particularly well because snakes require significant investment in these items. Continual residual sales can easily provide the backbone of your store’s income, so ensure that you have a well-stocked supply of colubrid-friendly equipment. That equipment should absolutely include food. A juvenile colubrid eats approximately twice a week. While adults eat less often, they do eat larger meals. All colubrids are carnivores, which means that this food usually consists of frozen rodents. Numerous companies now offer this food at very economical bulk rates.

If you do decide to provide live food for your reptiles, ensure that your staff is trained in handling said food; left unattended during a live feeding session, there is always a possibility that a snake may be injured. Be sure to remove live food if not eaten after half an hour and always supervise live feedings. Last, be sure to adhere to all local and state ordinances when stocking snakes. In Ohio, for example, sales of eastern milk snakes and black rat snakes are significantly regulated, as both are species native to Ohio. Be sure to do your homework before stocking colubrids to avoid any potential legal entanglements. While the popularity of reptiles has boomed in recent years, the pervasive fear of snakes is still a widespread phenomenon. However, your efforts in providing quality, healthy snakes for your customers not only can earn you profits but can also help allay the fears of those who might irrationally dislike our legless friends. Share This Story On: Facebook Twitter Pinterest Other Related Content KTNA – Talkeetna, Alaska » Natural Observations–Snakes in Alaska? Natural Observations–Snakes in Alaska?

by KTNA Staff ~ September 30th, 2013 In this Earth and Beyond program, host and producer Robin Song tackles the question: ARE there snakes in Alaska? NatObs92913SNAKES Recently a sentence in an email from a professional birder challenged a long-held belief for this Alaskan. Jim Stevenson leads birding tour groups all over the Americas, and earlier this year he was in Alaska. He sends wonderful photos of the birds he encounters, and sometimes includes other wildlife. One photo features an adult Bald Eagle perched on the edge of a cliff above the holes of Rough-winged Swallow nests, and at the end of the paragraph describing how the presence of the eagle may keep predators away, was the following sentence: “There are snakes in Alaska, contrary to certain unnamed sources, but they reside well to the southeast, near the coastal Canadian border.” I stared at that sentence in disbelief. I decided to investigate. When I came to Alaska in August of 1980, I fell in love with the North Country and decided to make it my home. I started reading about Alaska, learning about everything that interested me- particularly its natural history.

In none of the many books I devoured- and in none of the countless magazine articles I read- did I find any reference to there being snakes in Alaska. To the contrary- I found lists of what Alaska didn’t have, including skunks, scorpions, raccoons, fleas, ticks, lizards, bobcats, penguins, etc. On all of these lists snakes were included. I turned to modern technology and went to the Internet and googled snakes in Alaska. Several references turned up, sending me to different sites about snakes. Finally I found an article about a snake species that may be found in southeast Alaska- the Common Garter Snake. This is what I read: “The Garter snake is a Colubrid snake genus common across North America, ranging from Alaska and Canada to Central America. It is the single most widely distributed genus of reptile in North America. The common garter snake is the only species of snake to be found in Alaska, and is one of the northernmost species of snake in the world, possibly second only to the Crossed Viper. The genus is so far-ranging due to its unparticular diet and adaptability to different biomes and landforms, with varying proximity to water.

Northern populations hibernate in larger groups than southern ones. Garter snakes, like all snakes, are carnivorous. Their diet consists of almost any creature that they are capable of overpowering: slugs, earthworms, leeches, lizards, amphibians, birds, fish, toads, and rodents. When living near the water, they will eat other aquatic animals. Food is swallowed whole. They often adapt to eating whatever they can find, and whenever, because food can be scarce or abundant. Although they feed mostly upon live animals, they will sometimes eat eggs. If disturbed, a garter snake may coil and strike, but typically it will hide its head and flail its tail. These snakes will also discharge a malodorous, musky-scented secretion from a gland near the end of the tail. They often use these techniques to escape when ensnared by a predator. They will also slither into the water to escape a predator on land. Hawks, crows, raccoons, crayfish and other snakes will eat garter snakes, with even shrews and frogs eating the juveniles. Being heterothermic, like all reptiles, garter snakes bask in the sun to regulate their body temperature.

During hibernation, garter snakes typically occupy large, communal sites called hibernacula. Garter snakes give birth to live young. Gestation is two to three months in most species. As few as 3 or as many as 80 snakes are born in a single litter. The young are independent upon birth. On record, the greatest number of garter snakes to be born in a single litter is 98. Garter snakes were long thought to be nonvenomous, but recent discoveries have revealed that they do in fact produce a mild neurotoxic venom. Garter snakes cannot kill humans with the small amount of venom they produce, which is comparatively mild, and they also lack an effective means of delivering it. The venom is spread into wounds through a chewing action.” ( Though it sounded like this was a definitive article, I did find another one listed that was to the contrary: In the field handbook: “Amphibians and Reptiles of Alaska”, by S. O. MacDonald, I read the following: “The occurrence of the garter snake in southeastern Alaska has yet to be validated.

Hodge (1976) reported several sightings of snakes on the banks of the Taku and Stikine rivers inside Alaska. A garter snake specimen- supposedly collected along the Stikine River- was apparently deposited in the old Territorial Museum (now the State Museum) in Juneau (or the University of Alaska Museum in Fairbanks, according to Waters, 1992), but was subsequently lost. All further attempts to locate this specimen or to document the presence of garter snakes anywhere in the region have been unsuccessful. The valleys of the Stikine River and the Taku River (and perhaps Unuk River) could potentially allow snakes access to the coast from interior British Columbia, however, it remains unclear if natural populations of garter snakes even occur upriver in these drainages. The herpetofauna of northwestern British Columbia is poorly known. A preliminary search for garter snake records from major drainages that flow into coastal Alaska has come up negative. Furthermore, a resident of Telegraph Creek, B.C., stated that he could not recall anyone ever seeing a snake in that area.

The Common Garter Snake has been reported north of Terrace, B.C., in the watersheds of the Nass and Skeena rivers, and along the eastern side of the province as far north as the Peace River District. The Western Terrestrial Garter Snake is found along the B.C. coast, including Vancouver Island, as far north as the Skeena River Basin, and east of the Rockies as far north as the Peace River District.” And there you have it. One article stating that there are indeed garter snakes in Alaska (which I suspect Jim Stevenson read), and the other stating that sightings of garter snakes in Alaska have not been validated. Alaska Fish & Game is probably not going to list snakes in Alaska until there has been validation. With more people settling in the North Country year after year, there may come a time when someone crosses paths with a garter snake, if there is one to be found. It may be just a matter of time. Meanwhile, I’ve decided to wait until there is a substantiated report before I add snakes to my list of Alaskan species.

I love snakes, myself, having been introduced to them as a kid by my amateur naturalist father, who brought home a ring-necked snake to our flat in San Francisco. She was part of our on-going education to the wonders of the natural world, and my brother and I kept her fed and comfortable for a week, then let her go back to the wilds. I was hooked. Several years later, living in Sebastopol, I would capture garter and ring-necks out in the apple orchards, keep them for a short while to study them, then turn them loose. Mother gifted me with a lovely lime-green tree snake, which I adored. So I was disappointed to learn that Alaska has no snakes. But now I am hopeful. It’s possible the hardy garter snake, which hibernates and eats just about anything, could be surviving in Southeast. What do you think?

Question: A colubrid is what type of creature?
Answer: Snake