Dekay's Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi
Size
10–15 in
Status
Abundant
Venomous
No
Region
Statewide
A tiny, gentle snake that quietly thrives even in cities and backyards. One of the most common snakes people find under boards and flowerpots.
Identification
A small brown to gray snake with a pale stripe down the back flanked by two rows of small dark spots, sometimes connected by faint crossbars. The belly is pale. Adults are only 10–15 inches. It almost never bites.
Habitat & Diet
Lives in woodlands, vacant lots, gardens, and parks, sheltering under rocks, logs, leaf litter, and trash. It feeds on earthworms, slugs, and snails, making it a natural garden ally.
Conservation in Indiana
Abundant and secure statewide, and remarkably tolerant of urban habitats. It is often the first snake children discover.
Similar Species & Taxonomy
A small gray-brown snake with paired dark spots down a pale mid-back stripe; it is told from Kirtland's Snake by its plain (not boldly red) belly and from young gartersnakes by its lack of clear stripes. A brownsnake (family Colubridae; watersnakes and their kin are often split into the family Natricidae) of the genus Storeria. A widespread species; Indiana's animals belong to the northern forms.
United States Range Map Distribution
Distribution in Indiana
