Slither into the sun with common garter snakes. Garter snakes lie on rocks, mulch and grass to warm themselves in the sun.

Painted turtles are social animals. They can be found sunning themselves in groups of up to 50.

Wood turtles trick worms into coming to the surface by stomping their feet to imitate falling rain.

Cleaning up local environments also benefits urban wildlife. You can help eastern box turtles by recycling and picking up garbage when you visit places where these reptiles live, such as parks with streams or ponds.

If they feel thretened, common musk turtles can release a foul, musky odor, which is how they got the name “stinkpot.”

Red-eared sliders are not native to Michigan. Those purchased as pets and later released into the wild have become invasive species in some regions.

When surprised while basking in the sun, spotted turtles will dive underwater and completely bury themselves in the bottom of mud.

Curiosity counts for Blanding’s turtles. During Detroit Zoological Society research, Blanding’s turtles who scored higher in exploration, instead of aggression, were more likely to survive in the wild.

If you happen to see a black rat snake, do not be alarmed — these slithering repitles prefer to avoid people and help keep rodent populations in balance. Black rat snakes like safeplaces to hide, such as under logs and in tall grasses. Black rat snakes live where they can easily find their favorite prey, […]