frequently asked q u e s t i o n s critter f i e l d   g u i d e what is it? g u e s s   g a m e ask jim y o u r   q u e s t i o n s critter care i n s t r u c t i o n s links f o r   m o r e   i n f o Critterguy / Critter Field Guide / Snakes / northern ring-necked snake Critter Field Guide: Snakes of Michigan northern ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus edwardsii northern ring-necked snake Description A small black or gray, shiny-scaled snake with a yellow ring around its neck. Michigan ring-necks have a plain yellow belly, sometimes with a few black dots down the midline. Adult Length: 10 to 24 inches. Habitat and Habits Ring-necked Snakes live in moist woodlands, usually staying hidden under logs, bark, or other objects. They feed on earthworms, salamanders, and smaller snakes. Reproduction Females lay from 1 to 7 eggs in rotting wood or under bark or flat rocks, usually in June. Hatching occurs in late summer. Range and Status Ring-necked Snakes have been recorded throughout Michigan, but are generally rare and local. They appear to be most common on some of the larger islands in Lake Michigan. Beyond Michigan, Ring-necked Snakes are found throughout most of the United States. They can be common in the East. Acknowledgement James Harding MSU Museum Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824 (517) 353-7978 hardingj@msu.edu © Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved.