DeKay's Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Storeria, Species: S. dekayi
Widely distributed throughout the eastern and central United States, extending northward into southern Ontario, Canada, and southward into parts of Mexico and Central America.
Look up DeKay's Brownsnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Storeria, Species: S. dekayi
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. The species is widespread, highly adaptable, and currently facing no major population-level threats.
Physical Description
Slender body with brown to grayish-brown coloration, featuring a lighter dorsal stripe bordered by small dark spots or dashes. The head is relatively small and distinct from the neck, with round pupils and keeled dorsal scales.
Size & Dimensions
The pictured specimen is estimated around 10-12 inches. Adults typically range from 9 to 15 inches (23 to 38 cm) in total length, with a maximum recorded length of around 20 inches.
Habitat
Highly adaptable, found in deciduous forests, fields, marshes, meadows, and heavily urbanized areas such as city parks and suburban backyards. Typically shelters beneath logs, rocks, leaf litter, or debris.
Diet & Feeding
Specialized diet consisting primarily of soft-bodied invertebrates, focusing heavily on slugs, earthworms, and snails. Hunts actively by foraging through damp leaf litter and under cover objects.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives birth to live young). Mating occurs in spring following brumation, resulting in litters typically ranging from 3 to 20+ young born in late summer.
Look-alikes
Often confused with young garter snakes (Thamnophis spp.) or red-bellied snakes (Storeria occipitomaculata). Distinguished from garter snakes by the lack of prominent lateral stripes and smaller overall size.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. The species is widespread, highly adaptable, and currently facing no major population-level threats.
Cultural Significance
Acts as an important natural controller of garden pests such as slugs and snails, benefiting gardens and ecosystems by regulating invertebrate populations.
Notable Features
Remarkably tolerant of urban environments, frequently persisting in suburban neighborhoods where many other snake species struggle to survive.