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 to 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 the species is widespread, adaptable, and generally common throughout its range.
Physical Description
Small, slender snake with light brown to grayish-brown coloration. A lighter mid-dorsal stripe may be present, bordered by small dark spots or dashes. The head is distinct from the neck with dark markings behind the eyes. Scales are keeled.
Size & Dimensions
Specimens typically range from 20 to 38 cm (8 to 15 inches) in total length, with a maximum recorded length of about 53 cm (21 inches). This specimen appears to be an adult or subadult of moderate size.
Habitat
Found in a wide variety of habitats including deciduous forests, fields, marshes, and heavily urbanized areas. Often found under surface cover such as logs, rocks, bark, and leaf litter.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds primarily on slugs, earthworms, and snails. Utilizes an active foraging strategy, locating prey by following their slime trails.
Reproduction
Viviparous (giving birth to live young). Mating occurs in spring following emergence from brumation, and females give birth to litters averaging 10 to 20 young in late summer.
Look-alikes
Frequently confused with the Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) and juvenile Garter Snakes (Thamnophis spp.). Distinguished by scale patterns, lack of bright red/orange belly, and specific head markings.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, as the species is widespread, adaptable, and generally common throughout its range.
Cultural Significance
Beneficial ecologically as a natural controller of garden pests like slugs and snails, though often overlooked or mistakenly feared due to superficial resemblance to other small snakes.
Notable Features
Possesses strongly keeled scales and a specialized diet heavily skewed towards soft-bodied invertebrates like slugs, allowing it to thrive even in suburban backyards.