Snakes and spiders in Isabella County, Michigan
Isabella County, home of Mount Pleasant, has 6 snake and 2 spider species on record, from 352 licensed snake and 19 spider records. No venomous snake or spider reaches the county list, but the eastern massasauga and the northern black widow are on the Michigan list: treat any snake or spider like them as venomous until identified.
What snakes are in Isabella County?
In all, 6 snake species are on the Isabella County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (169), the northern water snake (65) and the eastern milksnake (32).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Michigan records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 169 | 9% |
| 2 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 65 | 11% |
| 3 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 32 | 11% |
| 4 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 28 | 8% |
| 5 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 26 | 11% |
| 6 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 15 | 9% |
Common in Michigan, not on the Isabella County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Michigan, these do not reach the county list: the red-bellied snake (399 statewide), the Butler's garter snake (284 statewide), the smooth green snake (256 statewide), the eastern massasauga (246 statewide), the ring-necked snake (180 statewide) and the eastern racer (151 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Isabella County
No copperheads reach the county list, and GBIF holds no copperhead record for Michigan under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the northern water snake, the eastern milksnake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, and GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for Michigan under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the northern water snake. No rattlesnakes reach the county list, but the eastern massasauga is on the Michigan list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the eastern hog-nosed snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Michigan under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the eastern milksnake.
Isabella County among Michigan counties
By licensed snake records Isabella County ranks 2nd of 83 Michigan counties with any.
Other Michigan counties with their own page: Washtenaw County.
The whole state: venomous species in Michigan, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.