Coluber constrictor foxii
They are approximately 1 to 2 ft long, though they rarely reach the upper end of that even as elder adults. You can easily identify this snake by the yellow to orange band around the dark neck of the snake. The northern ringnecked snake won’t mind.
#Coluber constrictor foxii free
This does not mean that the species should be bothered, treated as a pet, or otherwise harassed, but should you see one on your hike, feel free to take a picture from a distance. Northern ringnecked snakes are incredibly social and show little fear of humans beyond the typical snake nature of being asked to be left alone. The northern ringnecked snake is a small, voracious eater who could care less if it lives right under your feet or in a pasture. Northern ringnecked snake ( Diadophis punctatus edwardsii) Though Michigan does not have a ruling at the moment, it is expected that the blue racer will be considered a species of concern, threatened, vulnerable, or endangered very soon. Like the Kirtland’s, blue racers are endangered in Canada and considered a species of concern in Wisconsin. Snake fence can be used to prevent blue racers from reappearing in your coop. The snake will leave once its broken down the eggs a bit. If this happens, gently remove the snake and place it in a grassy area far from the side of the road.
These snakes are not capable of harming you or your family members, though they may sneak into chicken coops and steal an egg or two if the eggs are small enough. They only want to be left alone to continue ridding the world of small mammals (such as mice), injured birds, and other small animals that can fit in their mouths. The solution? Don’t corner or snatch at these snakes. Though these may appear in your yard if you live in the country or in your path if you are out on the trail, don’t be worried they’re completely harmless and non-venomous.Īt worst, they may rise up and strike at you to defend themselves if completely cornered. The blue racer is a beautiful black-blue snake of 4 to 6 ft at adult length.īlue racers desperately prefer to be left alone and will actively leave long-term habitation of sites that are beginning to fill with humans, such as subdivisions that are recently built. You will almost certainly not find these around your home. Our advice? If you find one of these in Michigan, simply leave it alone and continue on your way.Ī picture is welcome, but try not to handle it unless you are advised to do so by professionals. When frightened, these snakes are capable of becoming extremely flat to make themselves less interesting to predators. If you happen upon a Kirtland’s snake, don’t be surprised if it suddenly looks as if it’s nothing more than a husk. If you are out herping, these are easy to recognize.Īdults are approximate 1 ft to 1.5 ft long, grayish-brown and marked with small black dots on both sides of the spine, as well as on each side of the snake. In the entire observed history of this species, the Kirtland’s snake has never bitten a human being (nor any pets that can be found on record).Įntirely harmless and non-venomous, the Kirtland’s snake is, sadly, endangered in the state of Michigan. The only species in the genus Clonophis, the Kirtland’s snake is an endangered species that primarily eats slugs, earthworms, and small reptiles and amphibians.