DeKay's Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Storeria, Species: Storeria dekayi
Extensive range across North America, from Southern Canada through the Eastern and Central United States, and south into Mexico and Central America (Guatemala and Honduras).
Look up DeKay's Brownsnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Non-venomous (Aglyphous: lacking specialized fangs)
Danger Level
Harmless; these snakes are non-aggressive, lack venom, and have teeth too small to effectively puncture human skin.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Storeria, Species: Storeria dekayi
Conservation
IUCN status: Least Concern. Generally abundant, though locally threatened by habitat loss and pesticide use affecting prey.
Physical Description
Small, slender snake typically brown to grayish-brown. Features a lighter dorsal stripe bordered by two rows of dark spots that may be connected by thin lines. The head is small with dark markings on the temples and below the eyes; venter is pale pink or yellow. Scales are keeled.
Size & Dimensions
Specimen appears to be an adult, approximately 25-30 cm. Typical adult size range is 23-33 cm (9-13 inches), with a maximum record of 49 cm.
Habitat
Highly adaptable; found in woodlands, marshes, and prairies, but notably common in residential and urban areas. They frequent microhabitats such as under leaf litter, logs, rocks, and garden debris.
Behavior & Temperament
Secretive and docile. Primary defenses include hiding, remains motionless, or musk discharge when handled. Occasionally performs a flattened-head threat display. Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, but active diurnally in cooler weather.
Diet & Feeding
Specialized predator of soft-bodied invertebrates, primarily earthworms, slugs, and snails. They use specialized jaw morphology to extract snails from their shells.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives birth to live young). Typically produces a litter of 3 to 40 young in late summer (July-September).
Venom Profile
Non-venomous - no medically significant venom.
Look-alikes
Commonly confused with Garter Snakes (Thamnophis srp.), which have more prominent stripes, and Red-bellied Snakes (Storeria occipitomaculata), which have a distinctive red or orange underside and spots on the nape of the neck.
Conservation Status
IUCN status: Least Concern. Generally abundant, though locally threatened by habitat loss and pesticide use affecting prey.
Cultural Significance
Ecologically beneficial to gardeners as they provide natural pest control for slugs and snails. They are one of the few species that thrive in urban environments alongside humans.
Notable Features
Features specialized teeth and jaw mobility that allow them to grasp the soft bodies of snails and pull them out of their shells, a unique adaptation among North American snakes.