• Gray or grayish brown with dark blotches edged in white and spots down back and sides
• 18.5-30 inches long; record 39.5 inches long
• Belly blackish, not patterned
• Heavy-bodied; often found coiled
• Gives birth to live young

• Pit on each side of head between eye and nostril
• Cat-like pupils
• Wide, triangular head

Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum)

• 24-36 inches; Record 52 inches
• Light gray or tan with brown or reddish-brown, black-bordered blotches running down back
• Young similar to adults but blotches brighter red
• Often Y- or V-shaped light marking on top of neck
• Belly white with black checkerboard pattern
• Scales smooth; anal scale single
• Lays eggs

Eastern Fox Snake (Elaphe vulpine gloydi)

• Eastern subspecies in Southeast Lower Peninsula only; western subspecies in Upper Peninsula only
• 36-54 inches; record 70.5 inches
• Yellowish to light brown with black or dark brown blotches; head reddish or orangish
• Belly yellow with black checkboard pattern
• Scales weakly keeled; anal scale divided
• Lays eggs
• Eastern subspecies is State Threatened

Eastern Hog Nose Snake (Heterodon platyrhinos)

• 20-33 inches; record 45.5 inches
• Most have dark spots/blotches on yellowish, reddish or brown background, but some solid black, brown or olive
• When threatened, spreads neck to display two prominent black eyespots on neck and hisses; may turn over and play dead
• Heavy-bodied
• Flat head with upturned snout
• Belly yellow-gray with greenish gray pattern
• Scales keeled; anal scale divided
• Lays eggs

Photo by Earl Wolf