🐍 DeKay’s Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)
WildStyle Virginia Field Guide Series | Small Wonders of the Forest Floor
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📸 Introduction
Two small snakes in a garage might spark alarm—but in Virginia, they’re likely harmless ambassadors of the leaf litter: DeKay’s Brown Snake. Often overlooked due to their size and muted color, these snakes play a vital role in the ecosystem and are surprisingly common in suburban yards, gardens, and yes—garages.
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🧭 Identification
- Size: Typically 9–13 inches long; Virginia record is 14.9 inches
- Color: Brown to grayish-brown with a lighter dorsal stripe and small dark spots
- Belly: Pale or pinkish with faint speckling
- Head: Slightly darker than body; no venom glands or fangs
- Eyes: Small, round pupils—non-threatening appearance
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🗺️ Range & Habitat
- Found throughout Virginia, from forests to urban edges
- Prefers moist leaf litter, mulch beds, under logs, stones, and debris
- Frequently seen in spring and fall when moisture and temperature are ideal
- Occasionally enters garages, basements, and sheds seeking shelter
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🧠 Behavior
- Non-aggressive and secretive
- Will flatten body or release musk if threatened, but rarely bites
- Diurnal in cooler months; nocturnal in summer
- Hibernates in winter under logs, rocks, or foundations
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🍽️ Diet
- Specializes in soft-bodied invertebrates: slugs, earthworms, snails
- Uses specialized jaw structure to extract snails from shells
- Helps control garden pests—making them a natural ally for gardeners
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❤️ Reproduction
- Viviparous: gives birth to live young (not eggs)
- Mating occurs in spring; young are born in late summer
- Litters range from 3 to 30 tiny snakes, each about 3–4 inches long
- Juveniles resemble adults but may have brighter markings
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⚠️ Conservation & Ethics
- Harmless and protected—should never be killed or relocated far from capture site
- Often misidentified as venomous due to color; education is key
- If found indoors, gently relocate outside near leaf litter or garden beds
- Avoid using pesticides or glue traps that harm these beneficial species
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🌿 Final Thought
DeKay’s Brown Snake is a quiet presence in Virginia’s ecological tapestry. Whether found in a garage or under a garden stone, it reminds us that not all wildlife is loud or large—some simply keep the balance from beneath the leaves.
