Brown Snake
Authored By: Wilson
Storeria dekayi
BRSN
Status
The Brown Snake is generally common throughout the south, but it is locally abundant in a few areas, especially residential areas. The population in the lower Florida Keys, is state listed as threatened.Description
The Brown Snake is a small (23–49 cm), brown, gray or reddish-brown snake with a pale middorsal stripe. On each side of this stripe is a row of small black or dark brown spots. These spots are fused on some individuals to form short transverse bars. The venter is whitish with tiny spots along each side. Five subspecies occur in the southern United States: dekayi, limnetes, texana, victa, and wrightorum.Distribution
This species ranges from southern Ontario across the eastern half of the United States and southward into Honduras.Habitat
The Brown Snake occurs in most terrestrial habitats within its range. It is usually found in moist areas with surface debris such as rocks, paper, boards, and similar cover. Habitats include, pine flatwoods, dry pocosins, upland hardwoods, most pine types, and urban areas in trashy, vacant lots.Special Requirements
The Brown Snake requires relatively open fields or woods with abundant surface objects or debris.Breeding Habits
Mating usually occurs from late March to April, but can also take place during the summer or fall. Brown Snakes are ovoviviparous, with litter sizes ranging from 3 to 31 (Food Habits
Slugs, earthworms, and spiders are the primary foods of the Brown Snake.Management Suggestions
Since this snake occurs in such a variety of habitats, including urban areas, no specific management plans are considered necessary at this time.Additional References
Christman 1982; Kofron 1979.Encyclopedia ID: p2018
