Rattlesnake

Michigan's rattlesnakes are small and timid compared to their western cousins.  The snake pictured above is a Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  Like other snakes, rattlesnakes are cold-blooded (or poikilothermic) so they often warm themselves on roads.  Rattlesnakes eat a variety of rodents and other small animals.  In general they avoid conflict with people, but if disturbed their bite is venomous.   

This post is part of a series of Road Trip posts.

Brown Snake

I'm not that familiar with the Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi) but it seemed pretty easy to identify using online sources. Apparently they spend much of the time hidden under rocks or underground, where they eat worms and slugs. This one, that I saw on the Calumet trail in Northern Indiana, was probably moving from its winter hibernation spot.

This was just over a foot long, which is close to full size.

Blandings Turtle

When my daughter and I saw this turtle crossing the Kal-Haven Trail, we immediately knew it wasn't any of the four Michigan turtles we could name off the top of our heads (Painted, Snapping, Softshell, or Box) but neither of us could remember it. A quick visit to this Michigan Herps webpage showed us it was a Blanding's Turtle (Emys blandingii or Emydoidea blandingii).

The turtle was fresh from the pond, with duckweed on its shell, most likely on her way to lay eggs on a warm day in late Spring.

Blanding's Turtles are listed as a species of special concern in Michigan.

Blue Racer

The Blue Racer (Coluber constrictor foxi) is an impressive but harmless snake found in Michigan. They eat insects, mice, and small reptiles. Young blue racers don't have the striking blue color, but a mottled pattern for camouflage. Related sub-populations have a variety of different colors.


Ontario protects Blue Racers as an endangered species and Minnesota lists them as a "species of special concern".

Spring snakes

Chipmunks and woodchucks aren't the only animals to emerge in Spring. Garter snakes also spend Kalamazoo's winter in hibernation. I think this one is an Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Box turtle

This Eastern Box Turtle seemed to be enjoying the pleasant summer afternoon.