Ambassadors

Ambassador: Charlie

• Common and scientific name: Central gray rat snake, Pantherophis spiloides

Sex: M

Age: 12 in 2025

Arrived to KNC in 2013

Personal Story: Charlie was purchased from a licensed breeder for educational programs.

Favorite pastime: curling up under his rock hide

• When threatened, rat snakes vibrate their tail to create a buzzing sound, mimicking a rattlesnake.
• Rat snakes are an arboreal species. We provide lots of climbing opportunities for Charlie with tall branches and furniture that we rotate regularly.
• Juvenile gray rat snakes prefer to eat lizards and frogs.
• Central gray rat snakes are non-venomous constrictors.

DIET

In nature: mice, rats, birds, bird eggs, lizards, frogs

At KNC: rats

HABITAT

Hardwood forests, tree-lined streams and fields, swamps, marshes, farms

Similar KNC Trail: Pioneer Woods

Weight: 0.5-2lbs

Life expectancy: 10-20 yrs in nature, 30 years in human care

Predators: egrets, hawks, foxes

Issues and learnings: 

Contributions to the natural world – rodent/pest control

Habitat or population threats – listed as “of special concern” in Michigan and have habitat destruction

Take aways – don’t use rodenticide and be careful when driving!

Ambassador: Silo

• Common and scientific name: Corn snake, Pantherophis guttatus

Sex: F

Age: 15 in 2025

Arrived to KNC in 2020

Personal Story: Silo was removed from her natural habitat in South Carolina and given to Nature’s Way Preschool. She came to KNC during the pandemic.

Favorite pastime: burying herself under the substrate

• The name comes from their checkered belly which resembles kernels of maize. They are often found in corn silos eating mice.
• Silo is one of our most popular snakes to bring to programs. Her calm personality means she is often willing to participate in programming.
• Corn snakes spend a lot of time in underground burrows.
• Corn snakes are non-venomous constrictors.

DIET

In nature: mice, rats, birds, bats, lizards, frogs

At KNC: mice

HABITAT

Wooded areas, rocky hillsides, barns, meadowlands

Similar KNC Trail: Beech Maple

Weight: 0.5-2lbs

Life expectancy: 6-8 yrs in nature, 20-30 years in human care

Predators: foxes, opossums, skunks, bobcats, weasels

Issues and learnings: 

Contributions to the natural world – rodent/pest control

Habitat or population threats – listed as “of special concern” in Floriday, they’re protected in Georgia due to habitat loss and are often taken from the wild for the pet trade, but captive breeding programs have helped resolve the issue. Now they are the most bred snake in the pet industry.

Take aways – don’t use rodenticide, and they resemble venomous copperhead and are often killed as a result.

Ambassador: Pip

• Common and scientific name: Eastern milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum

Sex: M

Age: approx. 20 in 2025

Arrived to KNC in 2001

Personal Story: Pip was bit by someone’s dog and have to have the lower half of his tail amputated.

Favorite pastime: exploring his home

• The name milk snake comes from folklore that they drank cow’s milk. Actually, they were eating the barnyard mice.
• Pip often has difficulty shedding his skin. To help him, we provide humidity hides, sphagnum moss, and rough furniture for him to rub against.
• Their coloration varies and they can look like a wide variety of other snakes
• Milk snakes are non-venomous constrictors.

DIET

In nature: crickets, slugs, lizards, snakes, small mammals, bird eggs, frogs, fish

At KNC: mice

HABITAT

Open woodland, forested areas, swamps, farmland, prairie

Similar KNC Trail: Beech Maple

Weight: <0.5lb

Life expectancy: 12 yrs in nature, 21 years in human care

Predators: snakes, birds, opossums, skunks, raccoons, coyotes

Ambassadors: Crouton, Shelly, Lefty, Preschool, Carolina

• Common and scientific name: Eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina

Crouton

Sex: M

Age: approx. 20-25 in 2025

Arrived to KNC in 2005

Personal Story: Crouton was found with a cracked shell and taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center. He was transferred to KNC after he healed.

Favorite pastime: soaking in his water bowl

Carolina

Sex: F

Age: approx. 20-25 in 2025

Arrived to KNC in 2008

Personal Story: Carolina was found with a cracked shell and taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center. She was transferred to KNC after she healed.

Favorite food: sweet potato

Preschool

Sex: F

Age: approx. 20-25 in 2025

Arrived to KNC in 2017

Personal Story: Preschool was picked up from the wild and moved too far from her home. She moved to KNC from Nature’s Way Preschool.

Favorite pastime: sleeping next to her roommates

Lefty

Sex: F

Age: approx. 20 in 2025

Arrived to KNC in 2005

Personal Story: Lefty was attacked by someone’s dog which caused her front left foot to be amputated. She was transferred to KNC after she healed.

Favorite pastime: burying herself under the substrate

Shelly

Sex: F

Age: approx. 25 in 2025

Arrived to KNC in 2001

Personal Story: Shelly was removed from her natural habitat and fed an improper diet of iceberg lettuce which did not provide all the nutrients she needed. Her shell did not grow correctly and she is unable to hide in her shell from predators.

Favorite food: crickets

• Box turtles have a hinge on the bottom of their shell that allows them to fully close their shell, like a box!
• Eastern box turtles love to burrow in the ground. We provide deep substrate so our turtles can dig and bury themselves.
• Eastern box turtles have 5 toes on their front feet and 4 toes in back.

DIET

In nature: invertebrates, berries, flowers, eggs, leafy greens, mushrooms, carrion

At KNC: worms, crickets, produce

HABITAT

Woodlands, shrubby grasslands, meadows, near ponds or streams

Similar KNC Trail: Fern Valley

Weight: 1-2lbs

Life expectancy: 30-40 yrs, can live up to 100 yrs

Predators: ravens, crows, herons, raccoons, foxes, coyotes

Ambassador: Alex the Wee Turtle

• Common and scientific name: Painted turtle, Chrysemys picta

Sex: M

Age: 6 in 2025

Arrived to KNC in 2019

Personal Story: Alex was found in a pool. He was removed but came back the next day. The pool chemicals stunted his growth.

Favorite pastime: saying “hi!” to guests

• During hibernation, painted turtles slow down their metabolism and their heart beats once every 2-3 minutes.
• Alex is often seen following guests around his aquarium. He sees humans as a source of food and entertainment.
• Painted turtles are Michigan’s state reptile!

DIET

In nature: invertebrates, fish, aquatic plants, algae, carrion

At KNC: worms, crickets, pellets, produce

HABITAT

Ponds, lakes, marshes

Similar KNC Trail: Habitat Haven

Weight: 0.6-1.1 lbs

Life expectancy: 25 yrs in nature, 50 yrs in human care

Predators: raccoons, otters, mink, foxes

Ambassador: River

• Common and scientific name: Musk turtle, Sternotherus odoratum

Sex: M

Age: unknown

Arrived to KNC in 2010

Personal Story: River was collected from his native habitat using a Collector’s Permit from the DNR. He has a slightly malformed shell.

Favorite pastime: stretching out his long neck to stick his nose above the water

• Another common name for musk turtles is “stinkpot” as they emit a stinky musk from their glands when scared.
• Musk turtle live in the shallow areas of ponds, rivers, and lakes. To mimic this, we provide a relatively low water level in his aquarium.
• Musk turtles are often confused for snapping turtles due to their large beak.
• Their smooth shell helps musk turtles swim quickly.

DIET

In nature: invertebrates, fish, algae, aquatic plants, carrion

At KNC: worms, crickets, pellets, produce

HABITAT

Slow-moving bodies of water with soft bottoms

Similar KNC Trail: Habitat Haven

Weight: <0.5 lb

Life expectancy: 20 yrs in nature, 50 yrs in human care

Predators: bass, pike, herons, eagles, hawks, raccoons, otters, foxes

Ambassador: Clark

• Common and scientific name: Common Map Turtle, Graptemys geographica

Sex: F

Age: unknown

Arrived to KNC in 2025

Personal Story: Clark was transferred to KNC from the St. Louis Aquarium because she was the smallest turtle and often out-competed for food in her enclosure.

Favorite pastime: saying “hi!” to guests

• Their name comes from the lines decorating their shell and skin which resemble topographical lines on a map.
• Clark often has trouble shedding scutes– the thin top layer of her shell– so we’ve provided a brush for her to rub her shell against in her aquarium.
• Map turtles often bask in groups but will slip into the water at the first sign of danger.
• Map turtles hibernate at the bottom of large bodies of water during the winter.

DIET

In nature: snails, mussels, crayfish, invertebrates, occasional vegetation

At KNC: worms, crickets, pellets, produce

HABITAT

Wetlands with large bodies of water

Similar KNC Trail: Source Pond

Weight: males: 0.3-0.9lbs females: 1.5-5.5lbs

Life expectancy: 15-30 yrs wild, 50 yrs in human care

Predators: raccoons, coyotes, skunks

Ambassador: Barred

• Common and scientific name: Barred owl, Strix varia

Sex: M

Age: unknown

Arrived to KNC in 2017

Personal Story: Barred was hit by a vehicle, causing a break in his right wing. He has limited flight capabilities.

Favorite pastime: snoozing on his favorite perch

• Barred owls are known for their classic call which sounds like “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?”
  • Listen to all their different songs here >
• Barred was used in educational programming for many years. Due to his old age, he has been retired from programming.
• Barred owls are monogamous and mate for life.
• Barred owls are named after the barring, or brown striping, across their chest.

DIET

In nature: small mammals, frogs, crayfish, snakes, lizards

At KNC: mice, rats, quail, chicken, hamsters

HABITAT

Mixed forest, swamps, wetlands

Similar KNC Trail: Habitat Haven

Weight: 1-2.3lbs

Life expectancy: 8-10 in nature, 20-30 in human care

Predators: great horned owls

Ambassador: Chester

• Common and scientific name: Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypterus

Sex: M

Age: 6 in 2024

Arrived to KNC in 2021

Personal Story: Chester was struck by a vehicle which broke his left wrist. He is unable to steer with his left wing while in flight.

Favorite pastime: Peeping while flying down for food

• Broad-winged hawks migrate in groups called “kettles” from North to South America, an average of 4,350 miles.
  • Listen to their different sounds here >
• During migration season, Chester’s body tells him he needs to bulk up for a long flight. We feed him extra and encourage exercise to help with his instincts.
• Their courtship rituals include cartwheels, dives, and aerial acrobatics.
• They are generally solitary but will congregate during migration season.

DIET

In nature: small mammals, amphibians, insects, reptiles, birds

At KNC: mice, rat, quail, chicken, hamster

HABITAT

Forests in eastern US and Canada, tropical rain forests and arid scrub for migrants

Weight: 0.6-1.2lbs

Life expectancy: 12-18 yrs in nature, 20yrs in human care

Predators: great horned owls, red-tailed hawks, northern goshawks

Ambassador: Garage (Gary)

• Common and scientific name: American kestrel, Falco sparverius 

Sex: M

Age: 1 in 2025

Arrived to KNC in 2024

Personal Story: Garage was found on the ground as a baby and cared for by a family in their garage. He became imprinted on humans.

Favorite pastime: birdwatching

• American kestrels are sexually dimorphic, meaning the males look different than the females.
  • Listen to their different sounds here >
• American kestrels are cavity nesters. We have provide two nest boxes that Gary enjoys sleeping in at night.
• With a strong head-wind, kestrels are able to hover over a field, watching for prey.
• They have two black eye-spots on the back of their heads to deter predators.

DIET

In nature: insects, small mammals, birds

At KNC: mice, rat, quail, chicken, hamster

HABITAT

Meadows, grasslands, prairies, farm fields

Similar KNC Trail: Prairie Pathway

Weight: 0.17-0.26lbs

Life expectancy: 1-5 yrs in nature, 12-15yrs in human care

Predators: great horned owls, prairie falcons, bobcats, skunks, coyotes, raccoons

Ambassadors: Unnamed due to difficulty telling individuals apart

• Common and scientific name: Madagascar hissing cockroach, Gromphadorhina portentosa

Sex: M & F

Age: various

KNC has had a colony for several years

Personal story: The Madagascar hissing cockroaches were purchased from a breeder for educational program use.

Favorite food: soft produce such as zucchini

• The hissing noise they’re named for is created by pushing air out of small holes along their abdomen called spiracles.
• Madagascar hissing cockroaches are native to the island of Madagascar. We provide them with high humidity and heat to mimic their natural habitat.
• Their feet pads have hooks which allow them to climb smooth surfaces such as glass.
• Males have two distinctive bumps behind their head, called horns, that they use for territorial disputes.

DIET

In nature: decomposing plant and animal matter

At KNC: produce, dry dog food, gel cricket diet

HABITAT

Live in rotting logs and under leaf litter

Weight: 0.7-1.2oz

Life expectancy: 2 yrs in nature, 5 yrs in human care

Predators: birds, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals

There are many causes for habitat loss, including natural phenomena as well as human causes. Volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, tornados, and hurricanes are the major natural causes of habitat change and loss. Humans change the landscape through various activities such as agriculture, land development, water development, pollution, and climate change. Construction of roads, dams, houses, and commercial areas fragment habitats. These smaller sections of a habitat may not be enough to support certain species, especially migratory ones.

What you can do to help: 

Consider planting native species in your yard and encourage neighbors, schools, and businesses to do the same. Offer a water source for wildlife. Native plant species not only provide food but also shelter for a variety of local wildlife. Register your space as a Certified Wildlife Habitat®!

Resources:

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Threats-to-Wildlife/Habitat-Loss 

https://ugc.berkeley.edu/background-content/habitat-loss-restoration/ 

Road mortalities often occur during low or moderate traffic volumes and especially at night. Drive slow at night, especially on country roads, and look out for animals attempting to cross the road, especially during migration season.

Littering increases the risk of car strikes in many species. The litter of human food attracts species such as mice, opossums, and skunks. Predator species have learned this and will often wait near roads for their prey which makes them more likely to be struck by vehicles.

What you can do to help: 

Never litter, especially out of your vehicle. 

Advocate for wildlife crossing structures to help wildlife navigate busy roadways.

Resources: 

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/clas/ctip/wildlife_crossing_structures/ch_2.aspx 

https://ncwf.org/blog/road/ 

https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/wildlife-issues/message-apple-core 

Scavengers, detritivores, and decomposers are vital to the health of the ecosystem. They help break down what most animals don’t want: dead stuff. This process recycles important nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous so the ecosystem can use it again.

If these dead plants and animals were consumed and recycled, they would build up and nutrients would be quickly depleted. Imagine none of the fall leaves broke down. They would build on each other, year after year.

Vultures are especially important to ecosystems as their strong stomach acids are capable of processing and removing harmful diseases. Their bodies can break down rabies, botulism, anthrax, and other diseases and poisons that would otherwise spread and diminish a population.

Often given a thankless job, these animals play a vital role in keeping our ecosystem clean and healthy.

Resources: 

https://www.knowledgeboat.com/question/differentiate-between-scavengers-and-detritivore–900240303930689700 

“According the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) the illegal trade of wildlife is a multi-million dollar industry. The majority die in transit from the wild to the auction block or from auction to their new homes in zoos, with private collectors, exhibitors, pet owners, and pet stores.”

Many people who attempt to care for wild animals do not have the appropriate resources, knowledge, and financial capability to do so. Additionally, it can be extremely difficult and expensive to find an exotic vet who can treat these animals.

What you can do to help: 

If looking to acquire a native or non-native species, always do your research! Ensure you are able to care for that animal for the entirety of their life (turtles often live to be over 100 years old!) and for their full adult size (pythons can grow over 30 feet!). There are many rescues full of surrendered exotic pets who are looking for homes. If you are looking to purchase an animal, ensure they are coming from a reputable breeder rather than wild-caught.

Resources: 

https://www.nhes.org/exotic-pet-trade/ 

Imprinting occurs within the first few hours, weeks, or months of an animals life. Birds and some mammals imprint. Imprinting is the process in which an animal learns what species they are and how to behave appropriately as that species. 

Human-imprinted animals often don’t know how to hunt for themselves, what predators to look out for, or who to mate with. They don’t learn the social skills to interact with their own species.

Imprinting is an irreversible mental process that means an animal is unable to be released back to their natural habitat as they lack the necessary skills to survive.

What you can do to help: 

If you find a young bird or mammal in need of help, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator. Do not attempt to raise the animal yourself. Rehabilitators know how to raise young animals to prevent imprinting so they can be released back to their natural habitat. 

A list of Michigan rehabilitators can be found here: https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/dlr/ 

Many invertebrate and amphibian species, especially salamanders, are considered indicator species. These indicator species are more sensitive than others to water quality that may be contaminated due to pollution, poor oxygenation, or other environmental factors. They have specific parameters their habitat must abide by in order for them to reproduce, grow, and thrive.

With the increase of herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, road salt, and other toxins, runoff from rainfall and snow melt brings those chemicals into our local waterways, polluting them.

Many folks have remarked on the decline of salamanders seen in the wild. This is likely due to the declining water quality as well as fewer vernal pools. Vernal pools are ephemeral pools that occur in the springtime due to snowmelt. With drier winters, there are less vernal pools available for salamanders and other amphibians to mate in and lay their eggs.

What you can do to help:

Avoid using non-natural herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers at home. Purchase organic produce from local farmers.

Use sand instead of road salt to provide traction on icy surfaces.