• Lake Superior in a stormy mood. Photo copyright Craig Blacklock

    Pictured Rocks

    National Lakeshore Michigan

Amphibians and Reptiles

A garter snake meanders through long grass.

Garter snake

NPS photo by Gregg Bruff

As would be expected at this northern latitude, herpetofauna are not numerous. Only 5 reptilian and 11 amphibian species are known to exist within the Lakeshore.

Among species present are American toad (Bufo americanus), spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), spring peeper (Hyla crucifer), leopard frog (Rana pipiens), painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), smooth greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis) and northern redbelly snake (Storeria occipitomaculata).


Did You Know?

The Grand Sable Dunes are located just west of Grand Marais, Michigan, in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

The Grand Sable Dunes are a federally designated Research Natural Area. The five square miles of dunes are an unusual glacial kame terrace with overlying dunes caused by fluctuating lake levels over the centuries. The dunes are located in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, near Grand Marais, Mich. More...