Snakes in Michigan

On this page, you can find an overview of snakes in Michigan. The list is separated into non-venomous and venomous snakes in Michigan.

There are 17 snake species in Michigan. The eastern massasauga snake is the only venomous snake in Michigan. Just click on any of the images or links below to learn more about each snake.

If you have encountered a snake in Michigan that is not yet on our list or that you cannot identify yourself, we’ll be happy to identify it for you. Simply take a picture of it and upload your picture, a quick description and the U.S. state where it was found here on our snake identification page. 

List of venomous snakes in Michigan

The eastern massasauga is the only venomous snake in Michigan. The massasauga snake is listed as a species of special concern in Michigan and sightings of this secreative snake are rare. No fatailities have been recorded in over 50 years and bites are rare. Sightings of the last decased have been limited to the Lower Peninsula. This leaves the Upper Peninsula free of venomous snakes.

Sistrurus Catenatus – Massasauga Snake

The massasauga snake, Sistrurus catenatus, is a venomous snake that can be found in several U.S. states in a wide strip from Southeastern Canada to Northern Mexico. It grows up to two feet in length and has characteristic brown/black and grey/white patterns along its body that look like an iron ...
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List of non-venomous snakes in Michigan

Of the 16 non-venomous snake species in Michigan, three are species of the garter snake genus. Other common Michigan snakes are the North American racer, the common watersnake and the eastern fox snake.

Clonophis Kirtlandii – Kirtland’s Snake

The Kirtland's snake is a small non-venomous snake found in the Northern United States. The snake is grey or brown ...
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Coluber Constrictor – Racer

Coluber constrictor, commonly called the eastern racer is a nonvenomous snake species. The species contains eleven subspecies that can be ...
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Diadophis Punctatus – Ring-Necked Snake

The ring-necked snake, Diadophis punctatus, is a harmless small snake that can be found throughout most of the United States ...
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Heterodon Platirhinos – Eastern Hognose Snake

The eastern hognose snake is a harmless medium-sized snake found in the Central and Eastern United States. The snake has ...
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Lampropeltis Triangulum – Milk Snake

The milk snake is a nonvenomous snake that can be found in the Eastern and Central United States, in Canada ...
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Nerodia Erythrogaster – Plain-Bellied Water Snake

The plain-bellied watersnake is a nonvenomous snake most commonly found in or near water in the Southeastern United States. It ...
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Nerodia Sipedon – Common Watersnake

The common watersnake is a nonvenomous snake that is often seen throughout the Eastern United States as well as Southeastern ...
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Opheodrys Vernalis – Smooth Green Snake

The smooth green snake is a relatively small nonvenomous snake found throughout the Northeastern and Central United States. Its body ...
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Pantherophis Spiloides – Grey Rat Snake

Pantherophis spiloides, commonly called the grey rat snake or the pilot snake, central ratsnake, midland ratsnake or chicken snake is ...
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Pantherophis Vulpinus – Eastern Fox Snake

Pantherophis vulpinus, the eastern fox snake is a nonvenomous snake species found in the Central United States, east of the ...
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Regina Septemvittata – Queen Snake

The queen snake is a non-venomous snake that can be found in or around water and feeds almost exclusively on ...
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Storeria Dekayi – Brown Snake

Storeris dekayi, commonly called the (American) brown snake or Dekay's snake is a small non-venomous snake that can be found ...
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Storeria Occipitomaculata – Redbelly Snake

Storeria occipitomaculata, the redbelly snake is a small, dark brown , grey or black snake with a red, orange or ...
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Thamnophis Butleri – Butler’s Garter Snake

Butler's garter snake (Thamnophis butleri) is one of the smallest representatives of the genus garter snake (Thamnophis). This nonvenomous dark-brown ...
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Thamnophis Sauritus – Ribbon Snake

The ribbon snake, Thamnophis sauritus, is a common non-venomous garter snake species found in the Eastern United States. The snake ...
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Thamnophis Sirtalis – Common Garter Snake

The common garter snake is the best-known and most widespread species among the garter snakes. It can be found throughout ...
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