List of Minnesota Reptiles

Reptiles are cold-blooded animals. They cannot generate their own heat, but depend on their environment to provide them with the warmth needed to survive. For this reason, the cold winters prevent many types of reptiles from living in Minnesota. Nevertheless, some hardy species of lizards, snakes and turtles are able to adapt to the cold.

  1. Five-Lined Skink

    • The range of the five-lined skink extends into southern Minnesota. To obtain the warmth they need, they spend their time on the south side of rocky formations, as southern exposures receive the greatest warmth from the sun. Because they cannot cope with the winter cold, they spend about six months in hibernation each year, retiring underground where the temperature is warmer, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

    Six-Lined Racerunner

    • Cnemidophorus sexlineatus, the six-lined racerunner, is a second Minnesota lizard. The heart of its range is the southeastern part of the United Stares, but it extends to the southeastern corner of Minnesota, according to the University of Georgia. As its name implies, it is a swift lizard.

    Prairie Skink

    • The third and final Minnesota lizard is the prairie skink. Lake Louise State Park is one of its Minnesota homes, according to the Minnesota DNR.

    Poisonous Snakes

    • Two poisonous snakes reside in the southeastern corner of Minnesota: the massasauga and the timber rattlesnake. They are few in number, according to the Minnesota DNR.

    Garter Snake

    • The garter snake is a common sight in rural Minnesota, though it also dwells in cities and towns. Snake lovers who find them in their houses may transport them to a better location with relative safety, but it is advisable to use gloves because they bite.

    Bullsnake and Redbelly

    • Bullsnakes likes to take refuge in gopher holes, which is why its alternate name is the gopher snake. In contrast to this relatively large bullsnake, the redbelly snake grows to a maximum length of about one foot, according to the Minnesota DNR.

    Hognose Snake

    • Two species of hognose snakes live in Minnesota. The hognose has interesting habits. If it cannot escape from danger, it will first assume a fierce posture and hiss menacingly. If that does not work, it will lie on its back and feign death.

    Wood Turtle

    • The wood turtle lives as far east as Nova Scotia and as far west as western Minnesota. It prefers to live in rivers that flow through shady forests. Its range is shrinking because many forests have been cleared for agricultural purposes. Its popularity as a pet has also diminished its numbers in the wild.

    Other Minnesota Reptiles

    • Several other reptiles live in Minnesota, including the well-known snapping turtle and the painted turtle. Other turtles are various species of softshell turtles and map turtles. Other Minnesota snakes are ringneck snakes, rat snakes, milk snakes, fox snakes, smooth green snakes, brown snakes and the northern water snake, according to the Bell Museum of Natural History.