# Brown Snake (*Storeria dekayi*) Brown Snakes are small and usually brown or gray. They like to hide in leaf litter and are very shy. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 255 - **Habitat:** Woodlands and gardens - **Also known as:** Dekay's Brown Snake, Dekay's Snake ![Brown Snake](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426433/objects/5697.jpg) ## Appearance The Brown Snake is a small, slender reptile, typically brown to grayish-brown with a lighter stripe running down its back. It often has two rows of small dark spots along its sides, sometimes merging into a checkerboard pattern, and a distinct dark marking on its neck. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Storeria ## Interesting facts - Brown snakes help our gardens by eating slimy slugs and snails, keeping plants safe. - Imagine being born without an egg! Brown snakes have live babies, up to 20 at once. - These shy snakes are completely harmless to humans and are very gentle. - They are so tiny, some are shorter than your hand, but mighty pest controllers! ## Special abilities - **Tiny Tsunami:** Brown Snake has the unique ability to give birth to up to 20 live, fully formed young at once, rather than laying eggs. - **Snail Snacker:** Brown Snake can easily eat soft-bodied invertebrates like slugs and snails because of its specialized small, pointed teeth designed for gripping them. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-33 cm - **Weight:** 0.002-0.014 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 1 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-20 ## Diet & Feeding Tiny predators, Brown Snakes feast on slugs, snails, and soft-bodied invertebrates found in gardens. - **Primary Foods:** Slugs, Snails, Earthworms, Soft-bodied insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Small snakes can be prey for these opportunistic raptors. - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — Larger garter snakes may prey on smaller brown snakes. - **Hunts:** [Black Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — A primary food source, helping control slug populations. - **Hunts:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — An important part of its diet, especially in moist soil. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Brown Snake? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Brown Snake? 20-33 cm ### How much does Brown Snake weigh? 0.002-0.014 kg ### How long does Brown Snake live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Brown Snake move? 1 km/h ### What does Brown Snake eat? Tiny predators, Brown Snakes feast on slugs, snails, and soft-bodied invertebrates found in gardens. ### Where is Brown Snake usually found? Woodlands and gardens ### How does Brown Snake hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Advance Mills](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/advance-mills) — Virginia, US · Neighborhood - [Arden Park–East Boston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arden-park-east-boston-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Arnold Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arnold-arboretum) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Audubon Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Broadway Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-avenue-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Brookside Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brookside-reservation) — Ohio, US · Park [View all places to see Brown Snake](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/brown-snake) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Brown Snake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-snake)