DeKay's Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi · Colubridae
Also called: Brown Snake, City Snake
A tiny, gentle brown snake that thrives in cities and backyards. Frequently found under stepping stones and flowerpots, and completely harmless.
What the DeKay's Brownsnake looks like
How to identify it
- 1Small brown or grayish body with two rows of dark spots down the back
- 2A pale stripe down the center of the back
- 3Less than a foot long
- 4Often found in urban gardens
Snakes it's confused with
Similar size but with a bright red or orange belly.
Behavior & danger to humans
Harmless and shy; one of the most common snakes people find in yards.
✓ Good news: Harmless. A beneficial slug and snail eater for gardeners.
Related snakes
Non-venomousCorn Snake
Pantherophis guttatus
A harmless, beneficial constrictor and one of the most popular pet snakes in the world. Frequently mistaken for the venomous copperhead.
Non-venomousEastern Ratsnake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
A large, harmless constrictor and one of the best natural rodent controllers around homes and farms. Juveniles are gray and blotched, leading to copperhead confusion.
Non-venomousNorthern Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon
A harmless aquatic snake constantly killed out of fear that it is a cottonmouth. It bites readily when grabbed but has no venom.
Non-venomousScarlet Kingsnake
Lampropeltis elapsoides
A harmless coral snake mimic. Its red bands touch black bands — 'red touches black, friend of Jack' — separating it from the venomous coral snake.