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Snake ID in SE Michigan

virraszto Jun 19, 2007 07:53 PM

I found this snake under a wood pile today. I googled Snakes of Mi and Ohio and didn't see anything similar. Any ideas?



Replies (6)

NWFLHerper Jun 19, 2007 08:05 PM

Queen Snake
Snakes of Michigan

virraszto Jun 19, 2007 08:22 PM

Thanks for that ID. I did see the Queen snake on other sites but the colors didn't match and it was not found near any source of water. It says their main food is crayfish and there aren't any where near where I found it.

That's the second snake I found in my yard in the past month or so. The first one was a huge hognose snake.

josh1990 Jun 19, 2007 08:32 PM

It is not a queen snake but a Eastern garter snake. It is just an odd coloration for one to have. Most have three stripes down the back, but this specimen is "missing" the middle stripe.

The coloration is wrong for a queen snake. Take a close look at the head. On a queen snake the top of the head would be light gray with a draker stripe running through the eye and the labial scales (lib scales) would be solid white/cream. This snake have black lines on the edges of the scales, so with all it`s other characteristics would classify it as an Eastern Garter snake.

Also they only live near clean sources of fresh water where they can find their prey, crayfish.

chrish Jun 19, 2007 09:35 PM

I agree with Josh. That is an aberrant Eastern Gartersnake.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

CrimsonKing Jun 19, 2007 10:28 PM

It is also in the blue which no doubt masks some of the pattern/stripe/color.
:Mark
-----
Surrender Dorothy!

www.crimsonking.funtigo.com

skronkykong Jun 20, 2007 11:11 AM

wow, that's really cool. I've never seen one like that. I would also guess garter snake, but its just a guess.

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