Dekay's Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Storeria, Species: S. dekayi
Widely distributed throughout eastern and central North America, ranging from southern Canada through the eastern United States down into Mexico and parts of 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, as the species has a wide distribution, high tolerance for habitat modification, and stable population trends.
Physical Description
Slender body with light brown to grayish-brown dorsal coloration, often featuring a lighter mid-dorsal stripe bordered by small dark spots. The head is distinct from the neck with a dark bar running vertically behind the eye. Scales are keeled and the anal plate is divided.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen in the photo appears to be a juvenile or small adult measuring approximately 20-25 cm. Typical adult size ranges from 23 to 33 cm (9 to 13 inches), with a maximum recorded length of around 52 cm.
Habitat
Highly adaptable, found in a variety of habitats including forests, grasslands, wetlands, and heavily urbanized areas like suburban gardens, parks, and vacant lots. Often hides under surface objects such as logs, rocks, boards, and leaf litter.
Diet & Feeding
Specialized feeder focusing primarily on soft-bodied invertebrates, with a strong dietary preference for slugs, earthworms, and snails. Hunts actively by foraging through leaf litter and under objects.
Reproduction
Viviparous (giving birth to live young). Mating typically occurs in spring, and females give birth to litters averaging 10 to 20 young in late summer, usually between July and September.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, as the species has a wide distribution, high tolerance for habitat modification, and stable population trends.
Cultural Significance
Provides substantial ecological value in urban and suburban gardens by controlling populations of pest invertebrates like slugs and garden snails, often acting as a beneficial neighbor to gardeners.
Notable Features
Exhibits exceptional tolerance for human-altered environments, frequently persisting in densely populated suburban and urban yards where other snake species are unable to survive.