6 Species of Yellowstone Reptiles Call the Park Home
Each year, roughly 4 million individuals from all over the world travel to Yellowstone National Park to take in the superb surroundings and get a look of the area’s marvelous wildlife.
Bison, grizzly bears, and elk are a few of Yellowstone’s most widely known types, which’s what a lot of visitors anticipate to see. Hardly anybody goes to Yellowstone wishing to see reptiles.
You might not understand it, however there are 6 types of Yellowstone reptiles that live within the park limits. Spoiler alert: 5 of them are snakes.
Let’s learn more about each of these Yellowstone reptiles.
1. Terrestrial Gartersnake
Thamnophis elegans is the most typical of all Yellowstone reptiles, and you’ll generally discover this snake near water. They consume little mammals consisting of sligs, salamanders, frogs, and even fish.
You can determine the terrestrial gartersnake by the 3 stripes that run the length of its body. One runs along each side of the snake, and the 3rd stripe runs along the top.
These snakes are gray, brown, or brownish green in color, and variety from 6 to 30 inches in length.
In the late summertime or fall, a terrestrial gartersnake can have up to 20 offspring.
2. Common Gartersnake
Like its cousin, thamnophis sirtalis has 3 stripes ranging from suggestion to tail. But the typical gartersnake is almost black in color, and the stripes are rather intense. The snake’s underside is bluish-gray or pale yellow.
The finest method to determine this snake is by its irregular red areas.
The typical gartersnake obviously isn’t so typical. This types is obviously in decrease, however these Yellowstone reptiles are thought to have actually been more present in the past. In the Yellowstone area, typical gartersnakes have actually just been seen within the Bechler area in the Falls River drain, and 3 miles south southern entryway by the Snake River.
Capable of consuming reasonably harmful types, the typical gartersnake takes in primarily amphibians. Biologists think this might have something to do with the population’s decrease.
3. Rubber Boa
This nighttime burrower isn’t frequently seen in Yellowstone, and it’s one of just 2 snake types in the United States associated to tropical pythons and boa constrictors.
They feel almost silky below the hand due to their little, smooth scales.
Charina bottae is generally discovered in rocky locations, consisting of near streams or rivers. They’ve just recently been seen in Gibbon Meadows and the Bechler area.
The rubber boa consumes amphibians, lizards, and even birds and other snakes. They mature to 28 inches in length.
4. Sagebrush Lizard
Here’s the only non-snake on our list of Yellowstone reptiles. Sceloporus graciosus is the only lizard in the park, and you’ll never ever see one longer than 5 inches.
These lizards hibernate and emerge around mid-May. They stay active through about the middle of September, and you’ll generally see them in rocky locations when it’s warm and warm exterior.
You may even see the males doing push-ups throughout breeding season. They’ll discover a good perch to display their intense blue side spots as a cautioning to other males who may be completing for mates.
If you get or threaten a sagebrush lizard, it might shed its tail in an effort to escape.
These Yellowstone reptiles are usually seen along the Yellowstone River near the north entryway, along with in the Heart Lake, Shoshone, and Norris Geyser Basins.
5. Bullsnake
One of the animals that consumes sagebrush lizards, the bullsnake tends to regular dry, warm locations at lower elevations. You might discover them in open locations, like locations around Mammoth Hot Springs.
Because of the coloring and pattern on their skin, bullsnakes are frequently incorrect for rattlesnakes. It even makes a rattling noise with its tail when threatened. If you see among these snakes coil up, it’s finest not to spend time and learn whether it’s a bullsnake or a rattlesnake.
Pituophis catenifer sayi is the biggest of the Yellowstone reptiles at 50-72 inches in length. These snakes reside in burrows and normally consume little mammals.
6. Prairie Rattlesnake
Out of all the Yellowstone reptiles, the meadow rattlesnake is the one you ought to hope you don’t come across.
Crotalis viridis is the park’s only precariously poisonous snake. Fortunately, the park has actually just tape-recorded 2 snake bites in Yellowstone’s whole history.
These snakes are generally protective instead of aggressive. So, like grizzly bears, the worst thing you can do is amaze them.
The meadow rattlesnake makes its home in locations along the lower Yellowstone River. You’ll discover this snake in warmer, drier locations, such as those along Reese Creek, Stephens Creek, and — unsurprisingly — Rattlesnake Butte.
So, if you’re in these locations, keep your eyes open and prevent surprising any rattlesnakes. You can acknowledge them by the white-bordered dark brown areas that diminish their backs.
Prairie rattlesnakes can grow to over 4 feet in length, however they aren’t the only animal you ought to watch out for in Yellowstone. Once you’ve completed this list, take a look at our important bear safety suggestions for Yellowstone visitors.
