Howdy again....I mis spoke, the larger snake that visited is what my Husband called a "Blow Snake" not a Bull snake. It did look very much like what you are calling a Northern water snake but it's pattern was not as obvious. As you can tell I know NOTHING about snakes. I don't mind snakes, they are pretty cool, as long as they are not snakes that can get to my eggs and baby birds in my nest boxes they can stay. Wont be too happy if they are eating my frogs either.

The big snake is an Eastern Hognose Snake. The small blue snake is a juvenile Blue Racer. If it ever slows down for you to get a good look at it, it should have bluish coloration with some grayish or reddish blotches and as it gets older it will become all blue. Both snakes are harmless and while hognose snakes do eat toads (usually not frogs) neither will eat enough to mess with the balance of nature in your area.

Thanks Wayne, Blue racer was my first guess....DDDAAA it's blue and its fast! silley me! I just have not been able to locate a picture of a young one. Don't think I have ever seen one. I don't think the larger snake is a Hognose...I looked at the pics and thats not it. Sorry for my bad discription. It looks very much like the snake that (rats) I think "run free" in Ohio posted. Let me go back and look. I will post again after I get my facts straight! LOL

Yes it looked much like running_free from Ohio's snake ....Hubby just said he though they also called them "puff adders"? It was only about 4ft and 1to 1&1/2"dia at the widest point. It was NOT near the water, rather on the steps, in the rocks, and in the garden that still has last falls leaves in it. Ok it could be just about anything, I will trust your expertise! So I have a baby blue racer! :) I would love a pic if anybody has one. I plan on getting those leaves out of the garden this weekend, I will read up on where they like to hang out, I sure dont want to injure it with a rake!

Blue racers, when warmed up, can move along about twice the speed of an average snake and are excellent climbers. They can move through tall grass and when they encounter a tree, can shoot up the tree without breaking stride.

Here are photos and info about the racer and hognose. See link below. In west Michigan you will only have the eastern hognose, so ignore the western hognose snake species account!

joe

Here is a link that might be useful: Racer and hognose snake pics and info

If it was bright blue and only 5-6" long then the snake you were seeing is very likely not a blue racer - racers (Coluber constrictor) undergo an ontogenic color change with maturity and hatchlings/juveniles (even with the blue racer) have a very distinct pattern as can be seen here:

http://herp-pix.org/coluber1/juvblue3.JPG

If you saw a snake with a solid blue coloration at that size, I think it is possible you could have seen a smooth green snake (Liochlorophis vernalis), which can often have a blueish coloration.

http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS/sp_Smooth%20Green%20Snake%20(Liochlorophis%20vernalis)004.jpg
Hope that helps,
~Mike

puff adders are poisonus.

does he look anything like this?
http://www.oplin.org/snake/fact%20pages/racer_blue/racer_blue.html

it could also belong to the corn snake family. Because you are unsure of this particular little one dont try picking him up. never take chances unless you are everienced

Puff Adders in the United States are not poisonous. The purr adders in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula are. Glenda

There go my fingers again going faster than my brain not "purr' adders but puff adders. Glenda

"puff adder" is a generic name given to Hognose snakes of the genus Heterodon. There are no true adders in North America.

"Not sure of the name really but it is the one that is kind of grey and pretends to be a cobra."

You are describing the dark phase Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos). They do flatten their heads in a cobra-like fashion. Although not dangerous, they are rear-fanged and possess a venom specifically designed to kill toads, which is their favorite prey item.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

wow, um we'll if you expect it to be a baby then y'a kno' theres a moma and a daddy some where lol....but, maybe he is eating your frogs for survival

Both snakes are harmless and while hognose snakes do eat toads (usually not frogs) neither will eat enough to mess with the balance of nature in your area.

Here is a link that might be useful: venue