Garter Snakes	Black Racer	Scarlet Milk Snake
Green Anole	Eastern Fence Lizard	Southern Toad
Turtles	Broadhead Skink

Garter Snakes Top Of Page

Garter snakes are recognized by their distinctive striped patterns, often resembling the garters used to hold up stockings, which inspired their common name. 

• Size: Most garter snakes are relatively slender and typically range from 18 to 40+ inches in length, according to Mass.gov. Females are generally larger and have longer tails than males.
• Coloration: They exhibit a wide array of colors, including green, blue, yellow, gold, red, orange, brown, and black. Their most common pattern features three yellow, olive, or yellowish-green stripes separated by two black or brown stripes. Some populations, particularly on coastal islands, may lack stripes entirely and display thin, dark bars across their backs or be plain sandy-brown with diffuse black spots.
• Scales: Garter snake scales are keeled, meaning they have a raised ridge along their length.
• Behavior: Garter snakes are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. They are generally solitary but will gather in large groups, sometimes even with other species of snakes, for hibernation (known as brumation) during the winter months. When threatened, they may flatten their heads and bodies to appear more intimidating or release a foul-smelling musk to deter predators. They are also known to be excellent swimmers and climbers. 

Garter snakes are highly adaptable and inhabit a variety of environments, including forests, fields, prairies, meadows, wetlands, and even backyards. They are often found near water sources like streams, wetlands, and ponds. They seek shelter under rocks, logs, stumps, and other debris. 

Garter snakes are carnivores with a varied diet. They primarily consume earthworms, amphibians, leeches, slugs, snails, insects, crayfish, and small fish. They may also occasionally eat small birds, rodents, lizards, other snakes, and eggs. They are opportunistic hunters, employing both ambush and active foraging strategies. They use their keen sense of smell, aided by their flicking tongue and Jacobson’s organ, to locate prey. While their saliva contains a mild neurotoxic venom that helps subdue their prey, it is generally harmless to humans. 

Garter snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they give birth to live young after incubating the eggs internally. Mating typically occurs in the spring, with males emerging from hibernation first and congregating near dens to wait for females. Females emit pheromones to attract males, sometimes leading to the formation of “mating balls” where multiple males surround a single female. Litter sizes vary widely, with reports ranging from 3 to 80 or more young. The young are independent upon birth and must find their own food. 

Black Racer Top Of Page

Black racer snakes are non-venomous snakes found throughout the eastern United States. They are known for their speed and agility, and are often seen actively hunting during the day. 

• Appearance: Black racers are long, slender snakes with smooth, glossy scales. Adults are typically solid black or bluish-black on top and bottom, with a white or light gray chin and throat.
• Size: Adults typically range in length from 36-60 inches (92-152 cm), but can reach up to 70 inches (179 cm) or more.
• Juveniles: Young black racers look quite different from adults. They are gray with reddish-brown blotches down the center of their back and small, dark specks on their sides and bellies. This pattern fades to black as they mature, usually after about a year. 

• Distribution: Black racers are found across the eastern US, including southern Maine, the Florida Keys, and scattered areas of the Central US and West. Several subspecies exist, including the Northern black racer and the Southern black racer.
• Preferred environment: They prefer open, grassy areas, lightly wooded habitats, meadows, fields, and forest edges. They also thrive in areas that are mowed or maintained. 

• Speed: Black racers are very fast snakes, living up to their name. They are capable of moving at speeds of up to 8-10 miles per hour (about the pace of a quick jog).
• Defense: They generally flee when approached, relying on their speed to escape. However, if cornered, they may bite repeatedly, vibrate their tails (mimicking rattlesnakes), or release musk and feces.
• Hunting: Black racers are active daytime hunters and eat a variety of prey, including small mammals (like rodents and moles), birds and their eggs, lizards, frogs, toads, insects, and even other snakes. They capture prey by grabbing them with their jaws and pressing them against the ground until they stop struggling. Despite their scientific name (Coluber constrictor), they are not true constrictors. 

• Black racers are beneficial to humans by controlling rodent populations, especially in agricultural areas.
• They are sometimes mistaken for other large, black snakes, such as the eastern ratsnake. 

Scarlet Milk Snake Top Of Page

• Size: Relatively small, typically measuring 14-20 inches (36-51 cm) in length.
• Coloration: Vibrant alternating bands of red, black, and yellow rings that encircle the body. Importantly, the red and yellow rings do not touch, as they are separated by black rings.
• Mimicry: Resembles the venomous Eastern Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius) as a form of defense known as Batesian mimicry. This mimicry helps deter predators who might associate the bright colors with danger. 

Despite their resemblance to coral snakes, scarlet milk snakes are non-venomous. A common mnemonic used to distinguish the two is: “Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, venom lack”. However, it’s crucial to remember that this rhyme is not always 100% reliable, and it’s best to observe snakes from a distance and avoid touching them if you are unsure of the species. 

• Habitat: Primarily found in the southeastern and eastern parts of the United States, preferring pine flatwoods, pine savannas, mesic pine-oak forests, and sandy habitats. They can also be found in cultivated fields and suburban areas, sometimes even appearing in swimming pools during spring. They are secretive and often hide under rocks, logs, and debris.
• Diet: Constrictors that feed mainly on lizards, especially skinks, but also consume small snakes, rodents, small frogs, and invertebrates. They are mostly nocturnal.
• Defense: If threatened, they may strike, rapidly vibrate their tail to mimic a rattlesnake, and release a foul-smelling musk. However, they are not aggressive and biting is a last resort. If a bite occurs, it’s usually harmless and may not even break the skin. 

Turtles Top Of Page

• Freshwater and Land Turtles: Examples include the Red-eared Slider, Yellow-Bellied Slider, and Box Turtle. 

• Shell: A turtle’s shell is a bony structure that’s actually part of its skeleton, providing protection.
• Cold-blooded: Turtles are cold-blooded, meaning their body temperature is regulated by the environment.
• Diet: Many turtles are omnivores, eating both plants and animals. Their specific diet depends on the species and habitat.
• Lifespan: Turtles can live for decades, with some species living for over 100 years. Tortoises, which are a type of turtle, are known for their particularly long lifespans. 

• Threats: Many turtle species, especially sea turtles, are threatened by habitat loss, pollution (including plastic ingestion), poaching, and accidental capture in fishing gear.
• Conservation efforts: International agreements and local initiatives are in place to protect these vulnerable species.

Broadhead Skink Top Of Page

• Size and Appearance: This is the largest skink in most of its range, reaching up to 13 inches in total length. It’s characterized by its smooth, shiny scales, short legs, and a body slightly longer than its tail.
• Coloration: Juveniles are black with five prominent light-colored (white or yellowish) stripes running the length of their bodies, and a vibrant blue tail. As they mature, the stripes fade, and the tail loses its blue hue. Adult females may retain some faded stripes, while adult males become a uniform brown or olive-brown. During breeding season, males develop a distinctive, swollen, orange-red head, which gives the species its name.
• Habitat: Broad-headed skinks are primarily arboreal, preferring open forests with an abundance of large hardwood trees and decaying timber. They utilize tree cavities, abandoned woodpecker holes, and fallen logs for refuge and nesting. They can also be found on the ground foraging or basking, and may even be seen in urban areas with suitable habitats like firewood piles and old railroad ties.
• Behavior: These are diurnal (daytime active) and largely solitary lizards. They are excellent climbers, and when disturbed, they will typically flee up the nearest tree for safety. Broad-headed skinks can detach their tails as a defense mechanism, which then wiggle to distract predators, allowing the skink to escape. They hibernate during the colder months in the northern parts of their range.
• Diet: Their diet primarily consists of insects and other invertebrates such as spiders and snails. They may also prey on smaller reptiles and even young mammals.
• Reproduction: Breeding occurs in late spring or early summer. Females lay clutches of 8 to 22 eggs, typically in decaying logs or stumps, and guard them until they hatch. The eggs incubate for 3 to 8 weeks, and the hatchlings emerge with their distinctive juvenile coloration. Males become territorial during the breeding season and use their bright orange heads to attract females.
• Distinguishing Features: Broad-headed skinks are often confused with the five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus). A key difference lies in the number of labial scales (scales along the upper lip between the nose and eye) and postlabial scales (scales in front of the ear hole): Broad-headed skinks have five labial scales and typically no postlabial scales, while five-lined skinks have four labial scales and two postlabial scales.

Green Anole Top Of Page

The green anole (Anolis carolinensis) is a common lizard found throughout the southeastern United States, ranging from Texas to southern Virginia. Although sometimes referred to as the “American chameleon” due to its ability to change color, it is not a true chameleon.

• Size: Adults typically reach 5-8 inches in length, including their long, slender tail.
• Coloration: While commonly bright green, their color can also be brown, gray-brown, or a mixture of both, depending on mood, temperature, and environment.
• Dewlap: Males possess a distinctive pink or reddish dewlap (throat fan) that they display for courtship and territorial defense.
• Habitat: Green anoles are primarily arboreal, preferring trees and shrubs, but can also be found on fences and walls. They favor areas with high humidity, such as swamps, forests, and wooded beaches.
• Diet: Their diet consists mainly of insects, spiders, and other arthropods, including crickets, flies, and small beetles.
• Lifespan: In the wild, green anoles typically live for 2-8 years, while in captivity, with proper care, they can live around 4-6 years or potentially longer, even up to 10 years.
• Predators: Common predators include birds (such as kestrels and thrashers), snakes, larger reptiles, and domestic cats.
• Reproduction: Females lay single, hard-shelled eggs every two weeks during the breeding season (March to September), burying them in moist soil, leaf litter, or rotten wood.

Eastern Fence Lizard Top Of Page

The Eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) is a medium-sized reptile found in the eastern United States. They are often found in dry woodlands, forest edges, and areas with abundant sun, such as pine barrens with sandy or loose soil. These lizards get their common name from their habit of basking on surfaces like logs, stumps, rock piles, and fence posts. They are sometimes referred to as pine lizards or fence swifts due to their agility and preference for pine trees.

Eastern fence lizards are characterized by their rough, spiny, and keeled scales. Their coloration varies but is typically gray or brown. 

• Males: Have prominent blue patches on each side of their belly and at the base of the throat, bordered by black, especially during the breeding season. Their backs tend to be less conspicuously patterned.
• Females: Have a more visible pattern of wavy dark crosslines on their back and may have some pale blue along the sides and base of the throat. 

• Diurnal: They are active during the day, particularly in the mornings and evenings when they are observed foraging for insects.
• Diet: Eastern fence lizards primarily eat insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. They are ambush predators and rely on their sight to detect moving prey.
• Reproduction: Mating occurs in the spring, typically between April and May. Females lay clutches of 3 to 16 eggs in late spring or summer, usually in soil or rotting logs. The eggs hatch in late summer or early fall, without parental care.
• Territoriality: Males are territorial and use displays like head-bobbing and push-ups to flash their blue throat and belly patches to deter rivals.
• Defense: When threatened, they may run up trees and hide on the opposite side of the trunk from a pursuer. Like many lizards, they can detach their tails to escape predators, with the tail partially regenerating over time. They may also camouflage themselves or feign death.

Southern Toad Top Of Page

• Size and Build: They are typically 1.5 to 3 inches long but can reach over 4 inches, with females being slightly larger than males. They are squat and plump, with warty, dry skin.
• Coloration: Their color can vary from tan to reddish brown to gray or even blackish, with darker spots or splotches on their backs and lighter underbellies. Some individuals may have a light stripe down the center of their back.
• Distinctive Features: The most distinguishing features are the high cranial crests and large knobs located between their eyes and behind their ears. These knobs may give them a horned appearance. Unlike the invasive Cane toad, Southern toads have these pronounced ridges and knobs on their heads.
• Parotoid Glands: They have prominent kidney-shaped parotoid glands behind their eyes, which secrete a toxic substance called bufotoxin. This toxin can be irritating to mucous membranes if touched or poisonous if ingested by predators. 

• Habitat Preference: Southern toads are terrestrial and prefer habitats with sandy soils for burrowing. They are found in a variety of environments, including pine woodlands, mixed hardwood swamps, maritime forests, agricultural fields, coastal scrub, hardwood hammocks, and even suburban and residential areas.
• Nocturnal Habits: They are primarily nocturnal and spend their days burrowed in the sand or under logs or other debris. They become active at dusk and forage for food throughout the night. They are often seen near outdoor lights, which attract insects, a key part of their diet.
• Breeding: Breeding occurs mainly in spring, but can extend from February to October depending on the location and weather conditions. Males migrate to wetlands such as shallow ponds, ditches, and lake margins to attract females with a long, high-pitched, musical trill call. Heavy rains can trigger their breeding activity and loud choruses. Females lay large clutches (2,500-16,537) of eggs in long, gelatinous strands in the water.
• Tadpoles: The eggs hatch quickly, within 2-4 days, into small, blackish tadpoles that feed on algae and aquatic vegetation. Tadpoles complete metamorphosis into juvenile toadlets in about 30 to 55 days.
• Defense Mechanisms: Aside from the toxic skin secretions, Southern toads will inflate their lungs to puff up and appear larger to predators. They may also tip their head downward to present their parotoid glands to would-be predators. The eggs and tadpoles are also unpalatable or toxic to many aquatic predators.
• Lifespan: They can live for at least 10 years. 

• Adults: Southern toads are carnivores and primarily insectivores. They will eat almost any small invertebrate they can catch with their sticky tongue, including beetles, earwigs, ants, cockroaches, crickets, snails, bees, and lightning bugs. They may use their front legs to push larger prey into their mouths.
• Tadpoles: Southern toad tadpoles are primarily vegetarian, consuming algae and other plant matter from aquatic vegetation. They may also opportunistically feed on carrion, including the eggs of dead female toads.