Brown Snake
Storeria dekayi • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Storeria, Species: Storeria dekayi
Native to eastern and central North America, ranging from southern Ontario and Quebec south to Texas, Mexico, and Central America, and east to the Atlantic coast.
Look up Brown Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Storeria, Species: Storeria dekayi
Conservation
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution, large population, and high tolerance for human-altered habitats.
Physical Description
Small, slender snake with brown to grayish-brown coloration featuring a lighter mid-dorsal stripe bordered by dark spots or dashes. The belly is typically whitish, pinkish, or light brown with tiny black dots near the edges of the ventral scales. Scales are keeled.
Size & Dimensions
Specimens typically range from 9 to 15 inches (23 to 38 cm) in total length, with a maximum recorded length of around 21 inches (53 cm). The specimen visible appears to be a small adult or subadult.
Habitat
Found in a wide variety of habitats including deciduous forests, wetlands, fields, and heavily urbanized suburban areas. They frequently hide under leaf litter, logs, rocks, boards, and potted plants.
Diet & Feeding
Specialized feeder focusing primarily on slugs, earthworms, snails, and soft-bodied invertebrates. They hunt actively by foraging through damp microhabitats and leaf litter.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives live birth). Mating occurs in spring, and females typically give birth to a litter of 3 to 31 young in late summer (usually August or September).
Look-alikes
Often confused with young garter snakes (Thamnophis spp.) or red-bellied snakes (Storeria occipitomaculata). Garter snakes generally feature more distinct longitudinal stripes, while red-bellied snakes have a bright red or orange venter.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution, large population, and high tolerance for human-altered habitats.
Cultural Significance
Acts as a beneficial urban pest controller by naturally managing populations of garden pests such as slugs and snails.
Notable Features
Remarkably tolerant of human presence, frequently surviving and reproducing in suburban backyards and gardens underneath objects like plant pots, pavers, and debris.