eXtension

what snake is this?

Asked April 12, 2015, 5:03 PM EDT

we saw this snake basking in the sun on a rock amongst flotsam in a Lake St. Clair marina entrance....Belle River Marina in Belle River, Ontario....which is the southern end of the lake. I did a bit of research, but I'm still not sure what snake it is. I've seen fox snakes and rat snakes many times along this shore.

Baskingsnakeatbellerivermarina1_300x300%2523
Baskingsnakeatbellerivermarina_300x300%2523

Outside United States

2 Responses

I am not positive, because I cannot see belly coloring, and the pictures of the head aren't very clear, but my best guess is an Eastern Milk Snake. http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12201-61211--,00.html

You can check out other Michigan snakes for comparison from the Michigan DNR at http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12201-61219--,00.html





Hi Darren, thank you for your time and research. We live in the very south of southwestern ON next to Lake St. Clair. I have since been told that the snake we saw, is a northern water snake, very common in this area. Not an eastern milk snake as you might have thought.
Thank you again.
Jay