National Capital Parks-East - Reptiles

Snakes are the most diverse group of reptiles in National Capital Parks-East (NACE). Eleven species of snakes (Northern Brown, Northern Copperhead, Eastern Garter, Rough Green, Eastern Hognose, Queen, Northern Black Racer, Black Rat, Northern Ringneck, Northern Water, and Eastern Worm) are known to have extant populations within NACE. Historically, five additional species were known to occur in NACE including Corn Snake, Eastern King Snake, Mole King Snake, Eastern Ribbon Snake, and Scarlet Snake. Currently search efforts are underway to try to relocate these five species since most have not been seen in NACE parks for at least 25 years.

Turtles are represented by seven native and one non-native species (Eastern Box, Eastern Mud, Common Musk, Eastern Painted, Redbelly, Snapping, Spotted, and Red-eared Slider) in NACE parks. The Red-eared Slider is not native to our area but is widely established within NACE. Additionally, an escaped or liberated Gopher Tortoise was discovered and removed from a NACE park in 1995 and dead Diamondback Terrapins have been found on the shores of the Potomac River within NACE on two occasions in the last 25 years.

The only common species of lizard in NACE is the Five-lined Skink. Three records of Fence Lizard have been reported since 1945 and the species may now be extirpated within NACE. The Ground Skink, an elusive subterranean species, is known from a single record from 1977.