Reptiles

Several reptile species call the ecosystems of Sleeping Bear Dunes home. These underappreciated animals play a vital role in the food web and deserve more fans. None of the reptiles native to Sleeping Bear Dunes are venomous to humans. However, snake bites can be painful and turtle beaks can cause serious damage. As with any wild animal, admire them from a distance.
Reptiles are ectotherms, which means they cannot generate their own body heat. This is why you will see turtles, snakes, and skinks basking in the open on a sunny day. Listed below is a small selection of the reptiles that inhabit Sleeping Bear Dunes.

 

 

Snakes

 

Eastern garter snake on South Manitou Island

NPS Photo

Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)

One of the most common reptiles found at Sleeping Bear Dunes is the eastern garter snake. These snakes are dark brown with a light stripe down their back, and they grow to about 2 feet long. Their coloration helps them blend into the forest floor. The diet of garter snakes is mostly earthworms, but they will eat whatever they can swallow whole. Their saliva can be toxic to smaller animals but poses little threat to humans. Unlike many other snakes, garter snakes give birth to live young instead of laying eggs.

 

Northern water snake in a defensive position

NPS Photo

Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon)

This species is a common sight on the banks of many of the lakes and streams at Sleeping Bear Dunes. Northern water snakes are brown with dark bands, and they grow between 2 to 4 feet long. They spend most of their lives in or near the water, where they hunt for frogs and fish. Northern water snakes are skittish and will slither into the water when people approach. They are great swimmers and can hold their breath for over an hour.

 

Hognose snake peering out from beneath its tail, note the shovel-like nose

NPS Photo / K. Ferguson

Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

The upturned snout gives the hognose snake its name. They use this snout to dig burrows where they lay their eggs. This species is relatively thick for a snake, and they are tan in color with brown spots. They inhabit fields and forests with loose, sandy soil. Their diet is made of toads, frogs, and salamanders. When threatened, eastern hognose snakes play dead by rolling around and emitting a stinky musk.

 

Turtles

 

Painted turtle sunbathing on a wet log

NPS Photo

Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata)

Painted turtles are the most common turtle species found in the United States. The Midland subspecies inhabits Sleeping Bear Dunes and is Michigan’s state reptile. Their shells are dark green, and their skin is black with yellow stripes. Painted turtles feed on aquatic plants, algae, fish, crustaceans, and insects. Visit any of our lakes or rivers on a sunny day to find these turtles basking on logs or rocks. They survive winter by burying themselves deep in the mud at the bottom of lakes. They have special enzymes that prevent their cells from freezing.

 

Shy common snapping turtle navigating a fallen tree

NPS Photo / K. Ferguson

Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

The largest turtle species found at Sleeping Bear Dunes is the common snapping turtle. They spend most of their time submerged in lakes and rivers, and they usually come to dry land to lay eggs. Common snapping turtles can grow to around 20 inches long and weigh over 30 pounds. Older turtles are very intimidating to predators and are rarely preyed on. They have very powerful jaws that help them catch fish, amphibians, birds, and mammals. They tend to hide when humans are nearby, but their bite force can make them dangerous.

 

Lizards

 

Skink chilling out at the El Dorado boat launch

NPS Photo

Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)

Skinks are the only lizard native to Sleeping Bear Dunes. They are black in color with five distinct white stripes. They grow to around 8 inches long. The juveniles have bright blue tails that fade as they get older. They inhabit hardwood forests that are near water. Skinks feed on both plants and animals, though most of their diet is mostly small insects. When threatened, skinks may disconnect their bright tails as a distraction and run away. Five-lined skinks can slowly regrow their tails after dropping them.

 

Full Reptile List

 

The reptiles described above are only a small selection of what can be found at Sleeping Bear Dunes. Use the tool below to generate a list of all reptile species found in the Lakeshore. Select "reptiles" as the species category. A checklist will include all reptile species that are confirmed to live in the park. A full list will include all confirmed reptile species as well as false reports and locally extinct species.

 

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

Select a Park:

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Select a Species Category (optional):

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Species attribute definitions

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