Type of snakes you have seen in your area???

[sneakerpro]

southwest michigan... i've personally come across:

Eastern Garters (both normal and green)
Northern Ribbons
Norther Watersnakes
Blue Racers
Brown Snakes
Red Belly Snakes
Massasauga Rattlesnakes
*edit* and Eastern Hognoses.. i knew i was forgetting something.

and i think that's it! i have a ways to go i guess! one herp that is supposedly very common here that i've never ever seen is a five lined skink..?

I'm also from southern Michigan, do you have any tips for a beginning "enthusiast"? All I've ever personally seen is several garters and a water snake.