Snake ID

15 years ago

I live in Lower Peninsula Michigan and found this snake in my back yard. I can't tell if it's the rattlesnake or a water snake. I found him under a tarp curled up. I let him be but I didn't cover him back up like i probably should have. I went to check on it later and it was half buried in the dirt.

I don't live near water (other than the kiddy pool) and I live in a fairly populated area close to town.

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Comments (8)

User
15 years ago
NOT a rattlesnake! The head is the wrong shape.

Some sort of "rat snake" is my guess - Great Plains or a juvenile black rat snake. Not poisonous, eats rodents, good to have around your house and barn and garden because they eat mice, rats, chipmunks and other pests.

Search for Michigan snakes and you can find pictures of yur local species.
just_visiting
Original Author
15 years ago
I looked at other MI snakes and couldn't find a match. Was looking for a second opinion.

Good to know it is not the rattlesnake though!
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I have never encountered a snake coming after me. They feel the vibration of humans walking on the ground and skedaddle . While I've been bitten by three dogs and two cats during my life, I've never had a wild animal attack or bite me. My only concern would be my dogs getting involved but I simply take them inside the house for a while and the snake then goes on its way. A garter snake in May in that same area. I suspect he caught the frog because I didn't hear it after that.
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zackb
15 years ago
That is a Eastern Hognosed Snake -Heterodon platirhinos. Very nice!
wayne_mo
15 years ago
Definitely an Eastern Hognose Snake! Its a beauty!
User
15 years ago
Harmless, shy, handsome and has some interesting ways to bluff itself out of trouble.

Here is a link that might be useful: Defensive Moves
just_visiting
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you SO very much for the ID! I really appreciate it :D
danetherton
15 years ago
Please folks, remember that head shape doesn't tell us whether the snake is venomous. A Hognose can spread the head and look dangerous, and most rat snakes have rather wide heads, plus, almost all the Water Snakes have fairly broad heads.
User
15 years ago
Dan - It's the whole "gestalt" of the snake's head, not just the width.

Rattlers have distinctly skinny necks compared to the head size, a narrow "muzzle" and an overall arrowhead shape to their head. They also have prominent supraorbital (over the eye) ridges. If you can see the pit you are too close.

Look at the thick neck, lack of prominent supraorbital ridges, and rounded blunt muzzle on that hognose.

Gopher snake:

{{!gwi}}

Rattler:

{{!gwi}}