KIRTLAND'S SNAKE

To see and/or download a more detailed account of this species in PDF format, click here. Loading takes a little while if you have a slow internet connectioThe underside or belly The upper surface of an animal

Identification

The Kirtland’s Snake is a small, slender snake. Adults are typically between 14 and 18 inches long. The dorsal surface is usually brown to gray and is patterned with four rows of alternating dark spots. The belly of the Kirtland’s Snake is generally red with a line of dark spots down each side. Ventral coloration can also be orange or pink. The combination of dark dorsal blotches and a reddish belly with two lines of dark spots is unique to the Kirtland’s Snake.

The Kirtland’s Snake’s distribution extends from Ohio west to eastern Missouri, north to southern Michigan and south to northern Kentucky. A small disjunct population can also be found in western Pennsylvania. MAP. The Kirtland’s Snake is listed as state Endangered in Indiana and Michigan, and state Threatened in Illinois and Ohio. In Missouri, the Kirtland’s Snake is listed as a species of possible occurrence, and its distribution within the state is currently unknown. The last documented sighting within Missouri was in 1964 (J. Briggler, pers comm.). The species is absent from Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Click HERE for state by state status descriptions.

Kirtland’s Snakes inhabit moist to wet “grassy” habitats (such as wet meadows, wet prairies, fens and grasslands) in close proximity to water bodies, such as open and woodland ponds, streams and marshes. Occasionally, individuals may also be found in residential and urban grassy areas under boards and trash. However, these sites are usually the first targeted for collection by the pet trade industry. The Kirtland's Snake is a reclusive species, spending large periods of time under objects or underground. Its diet is comprised of mainly earthworms and slugs, which helps explain its somewhat “secretive” behavior. During winter months Kirtland's Snakes often hibernate in crayfish burrows. The species is also ovoviviparous.

Habitat loss and degradation are important factors contributing to the decline of this species. Although the distribution of the Kirtland’s Snake appears continuous across its range, populations are actually isolated in remaining patches of suitable habitat. The pet trade industry has also had a profound affect on the abundance of this species. When discovered, populations are often exploited by collectors despite the fact that this species fares poorly in captivity. As well as considering these factors, management ideas and recommendations targeted at the Kirtland’s Snake would also be greatly improved by an increase in research on the species, as available literature is currently limited. The Habitat Management Guidelines for Reptiles and Amphibians of the Midwest provides some excellent land management and conservation ideas for habitats used by the Kirtland's Snake.