Small; gray, yellowish-brown, brown, or reddish-brown, with 2 parallel rows of small dark spots bordering an indistinct wide light back stripe. Belly pale yellow, brown, or pinkish with small black dots along edges. Young have yellowish collar. Scales keeled, in 17 rows. Anal plate divided. Similar species are Florida Brown Snake (S. victa), formerly considered a subspecies of Dekay's, has 15 scale rows (all Dekay's have 17) and a light band across head; it occurs from se. Georgia to the Florida Keys.
Ten Facts about DeKay's Brown Snake
- They are usually 23-33 cm; record 49.2 cm long.
- Mates spring and fall; 3-31 young, 3 1/4-4 1/2" (8-11 cm) long, are born June to September.
- Moist upland woodland to lowland freshwater and saltwater marshes; margins of swamps, bogs and ponds; vacant lots, gardens, golf courses.
- Range: S. Maine, s. Quebec, and s. Minnesota, south to Florida panhandle, and through Texas and Mexico to n. Honduras.
- Diurnal, but nocturnal in warm weather.
- The diet includes other snakes, fish, lizards, turtles, frogs, small birds and alligators and mammals.
- Birds, other snakes, hawks are their enemies.
- Have specialized teeth for removing snail shells.
- Are not thought to have any modified saliva (venom) and are harmless and reluctant to bite. Bites that may occur are not dangerous.
- Life span:10-20 years.
