Pine Woods Lit Snake (likely an Eastern Garter Snake or North American Brown Snake)
Storeria dekayi (cf. Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Storeria / Thamnophis
Commonly found throughout North America, specifically the Eastern and Central United States and parts of Southern Canada.
Look up Pine Woods Lit Snake (likely an Eastern Garter Snake or North American Brown Snake) in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Storeria / Thamnophis
Conservation
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. Broadly distributed and highly resilient to habitat fragmentation.
Physical Description
Small, slender body with keeled scales. Coloration is typically brown, tan, or grayish with a pale central dorsal stripe and small dark spots or 'checkering' along the sides. The head is relatively small and can appear slightly wider than the neck.
Size & Dimensions
Estimated specimen length is 10-15 inches. Typical adult size range for these species is 9 to 20 inches.
Habitat
Generalist species found in forests, grasslands, suburban gardens, and near wetlands. Highly adapted to human-modified landscapes and often found under debris.
Diet & Feeding
Active foragers that consume earthworms, slugs, snails, and occasionally small amphibians or insects.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives birth to live young). Litters typically range from 5 to 25 neonates, usually born in late summer.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. Broadly distributed and highly resilient to habitat fragmentation.
Cultural Significance
Important ecological role in garden pest control, specifically managing slug and snail populations.
Notable Features
Often referred to as 'garden snakes,' these are among the most common snakes encountered by homeowners in North America and are vital indicators of a healthy local ecosystem.