Identifying Snakes in Michigan

Use binoculars to view snakes from a distance. Write the colors and patterns of a snake in a notebook to compare with a field guide on Michigan snakes. Notice belly color, stripes, spots, and any designs inside the major colors and patterns. Photograph snakes from all angles to sort differences between similar species. While Northern Ribbon, Eastern Garter and Butler's Garter snakes all have three yellow stripes down the back and pale bellies in yellow, green or white, Ribbon snakes have a black head with white scales above and below the mouth, Eastern Garters have a red tongue with a black tip, and Butler's Garters have a very small, dark head. Blue Racers are gray or blue with a white chin and throat and a light blue or white belly. Eastern Milk snakes are gray or tan with red or brown blotches, a white belly with a black checkered pattern and a light-colored "V" or "Y" shape behind the head.

Run a tape measure along the snake as close as you can get without scaring it away---after determining it is not the poisonous Eastern Massasauga rattler, which is two to three feet long with a thick body, narrow neck, wide triangular head and cat-like eye pupils. Massasauga rattlesnakes are light gray to brown, with brown rectangular patches so dark that the snake sometimes appears black. The belly is black and the tail has segmented rattles. Larger Michigan snakes include the three-and-a-half- to eight-foot Black Rat snake, the four- to six-foot Blue Racer, the four- to five-foot Copper-Bellied Water snake and the three- to five-foot Fox snake. Snakes that are two to four feet in length include the Northern Water snake, Eastern Milk snake, and Eastern Garter snake. Small snakes include the eight- to 16-inch Red-Bellied snake, the nine- to 15-inch Brown snake, the 10- to 24-inch Ring-Necked snake, the 12- to 18-inch Kirtland's Snake, and the 12- to 20-inch Smooth Green snake.

Check the location and environment a snake is in. Michigan snake species favor particular environments and look for temperatures between around 75 to 85 degrees. Michigan snakes that prefer swamps, ponds and freshwater lakes include the Northern Water snake, the Copper-Bellied Water snake, the Northern Ribbon snake, the Queen snake and the Butler's Garter snake. Smooth Green snakes prefer grassy areas. Milk snakes, Ring-Necked snakes, Kirtland's snakes and Eastern Garter snakes like marshes, moist woodlands and damp meadows. Western Fox snakes like sand dunes, woods and fields, while Eastern Fox snakes prefer marshes in southwest lower Michigan.