Brown Snake
Storeria dekayi • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Storeria, Species: Storeria dekayi
Eastern and central North America, ranging from southern Canada through the eastern United States down into Mexico and parts of Central America.
Look up Brown Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Storeria, Species: Storeria dekayi
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, as it is a widespread and adaptable species with stable populations.
Physical Description
Small, slender body with brown or grayish-brown coloration. Features a lighter mid-dorsal stripe bordered by small dark spots or dashes. Scales are keeled, and the head is distinct from the neck with dark markings on the sides.
Size & Dimensions
Specimen is likely a juvenile or small adult, approximately 20 to 30 cm in length. Typical adult size ranges from 23 to 38 cm, with a maximum recorded length around 52 cm.
Habitat
Highly adaptable, found in moist woodlands, fields, marshes, and heavily urbanized areas such as suburban gardens and parks. Prefers hiding under ground cover, logs, rocks, and debris.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily feeds on soft-bodied invertebrates such as slugs, earthworms, snails, and occasionally insects, utilizing an active foraging strategy.
Reproduction
Viviparous, giving birth to live young. Mating typically occurs in the spring, resulting in a litter ranging from 3 to 20 young born in late summer.
Look-alikes
Often confused with young garter snakes (Thamnophis species) or red-bellied snakes (Storeria occipitomaculata). Distinguished by its lack of bright lateral stripes and specific dorsal spotting patterns.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, as it is a widespread and adaptable species with stable populations.
Cultural Significance
Acts as an important urban ecosystem regulator by controlling populations of garden pests such as slugs and snails.
Notable Features
Remarkably tolerant of human-altered environments, frequently found thriving in suburban yards and city parks where other snakes might struggle to survive.