DeKay's Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi • Order: Squamata; Suborder: Serpentes; Family: Colubridae; Subfamily: Natricinae; Genus: Storeria; Species: S. dekayi
Common across North America, ranging from southern Canada through the eastern two-thirds of the United States and down into northern 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
Least Concern (IUCN); very common and resilient to human-altered landscapes.
Physical Description
Small, slender body. Generally brown to grayish with a lighter dorsal stripe bordered by small black spots or checkboxes. The head is small with dark patches on either side of the neck. Scales are keeled.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen appears to be an adult around 9-12 inches. Species typical range is 9 to 13 inches (23–33 cm), with a maximum of about 19 inches.
Habitat
Highly adaptable; found in wetlands, grasslands, and forests, but very commonly found in residential gardens, parks, and urban areas under debris or leaf litter.
Diet & Feeding
Specializes in soft-bodied invertebrates, primarily earthworms, slugs, and snails. They possess specialized teeth and jaw mechanics to extract snails from their shells.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives birth to live young). Typically produces a litter of 12 to 20 young in late summer (July–September).
Look-alikes
Often confused with Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) which are usually larger and have more distinct longitudinal stripes, or Redbelly Snakes (Storeria occipitomaculata) which have a distinct red underside.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN); very common and resilient to human-altered landscapes.
Cultural Significance
Ecologically beneficial in gardens as they act as natural pest control for slugs and snails that damage plants.
Notable Features
Often referred to as the 'City Snake' due to its remarkable ability to thrive in densely populated urban environments where most other snake species have been extirpated.