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Kirtland’s Snake

Overview:

Scientific Name: Clonophis kirtlandii

Size: 14 – 24.5” (total adult length)

Status: Rare and declining throughout range

Michigan State Status: Endangered

MDNR Wildlife Action Plan Status: Species of Greatest Conservation Need

Adult Kirklands Snake

Habitat:

Inhabit moist habitats found near streams, ditches, marshes, or ponds. Most often are found in open, grassy habitats like wet prairies, wet meadows, fens, swales, and pastures. May occupy swampy forests.

Conservation:

The Kirtland’s snake occurs in an extremely small distribution just limited to regions of the Lake Michigan and Lake Erie drainage basin. It is historically an already rare species on the landscape and habitat degradation has contributed to further population declines. The alteration or loss of fens, wet meadows, and open tamarack swamps are particularly detrimental to this species and have forced them to occupy habitats in more urbanized environments and even metropolitan areas. The extirpation of Kirtland’s snake populations in Michigan has resulted in this species elevation to state endangered and is at severe risk of extinction if no management actions are implemented.  

Best Management:

Known populations of Kirtland’s snake should be identified and their habitat protected. The management of identified Kirtland’s snake habitat should be conducted to create open wetland expanses. The maintenance of covers such as crayfish burrows will greatly benefit this species and can be supplemented with artificial cover objects if crayfish burrows are absent. Avoid altering the water level of aquatic systems. Prescribed burning is an effective management tool to maintain an open habitat but must adhere to herpetofauna-specific guidelines to prevent incidental mortality. Provide hibernacula structures by excavating a pit to a depth of 8’ and filling it with objects like rocks, logs, tubing, pipes, and rubble. Cover the pit with soil while ensuring small openings are in place to act as access and exit points. Additionally, basking structures can be implemented by piling materials such as logs or rocks placed in a sunny area. Provide nesting structures if naturally occurring features are not present. If mowing is necessary, mow infrequently and during the hottest times of the year. Mower decks should also be adjusted either high (>6”) to avoid ground-dwelling wildlife or low (<2”) to discourage herpetofauna movement in specific areas. It’s important to note that wildlife clearance surveys must be conducted prior to any mowing operations in areas containing rare herpetofauna. Wildlife barrier fencing or crossing structures may be considered along habitats near development and roads to prevent incidental mortality. 

Adult Coloration:

Reddish to grayish-brown body color with four rows of alternating dark, rounded blotches running down the back and sides. These marks are often faded in very young and older adults. Occasionally there may be a faint stripe down the center of the back. The head is black or brown, sometimes with a light mottled pattern. The labial scales (along the mouth), chin and throat are white, cream, or yellow. The belly is pink, red, or orange with a row of black spots on each side. Irregular dark spotting between rows of spots on the belly can occur.  

Adult Characteristics:

Small, narrow headed snake with keeled scales (each scale has a small central ridge) and a divided anal plate. Males tend to be smaller (shorter and thinner) with proportionally longer tails than females. 

Typical lifespan in wild: 8 years in captivity 

Breeding interval: Once a year 

Breeding season: May 

Range number of offspring: 4 – 15 

Average number of offspring: 9 

Average age at sexual/reproductive maturity (female): 2 years old 

Average age at sexual/reproductive maturity (male): 2 years old 

Diet: Mainly earthworms and slugs 

Predators: Eastern Milk Snakes, shrews, weasels, hawks, owls, foxes, skunks, cats. 

Juvenile Characteristics:

Newborns range from 4.3 – 6.6” in length and are darker than adults with a faint blotched pattern. The belly is a deep red.  

Scale Count:

17-19 scale rows at midbody

Species Confused With:

Garter Snakes have stripes on their back with pale, unspotted bellies and an undivided anal plate. Red-bellied Snakes are smaller and do not have blotches on their back or rows of spots on their belly. Copper-bellied Water Snakes are larger and also lack rows of spots on the belly.  

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