DeKay's Brownsnake

At home in the garden...

In a quiet frame of mind, I picked up a handful of straw to rearrange it in my garden and uncovered a DeKay's Brownsnake. The snake was so small it would have fit through my wedding ring. It did not move.

DeKay’s Brownsnake (scientific name is Storeria decayi)

It was only 12 inches long. This species almost never bites people. If you handled it roughly, it might get scared enough to try, but even then, it probably could not break the skin. At worst it would make a little scratch. It has no venom.

Although it is harmless to humans, a slug or snail would have reason to be scared. DeKay’s Brownsnake eats them. This snake is beneficial, and gardeners love it.

How to know DeKay’s Brownsnake

Brown is part of the name, but they are not always brown. They range from light grey to almost black. A pale line runs down the center of the back. On top of the head is a dark, two-part smudge. If you see the side of the head, you will find a black spot below the eye. They are one of the smallest snakes in North America, usually about one foot long and not more than 18 inches.

DeKay’s Brownsnake is sometimes pale grey.

Most people don’t get to see them, because DeKay’s Brownsnakes spend most of their time underground or under cover. They’re a tasty morsel for a hawk, skunk, possum, robin, or domestic cat. They have scant means to defend themselves, besides letting out some seriously stinky poop when attacked.

Hiding is their main survival strategy. Organic gardens offer excellent habitat. A DeKay’s Brownsnake can disappear into mulch or a rodent’s burrow, take protection under a board, or wait out the heat of the day in a loose pile of rocks. Their presence indicates that life processes are going on in the soil and there are no pesticides.

Where babies come from

Most snakes lay eggs. However, DeKay’s Brownsnakes give birth to live young. Newborns are usually darker than adults and have a somewhat pale ring around the neck. The babies find their own food from the moment they’re born. And I have to tell you, they are cute.

One October morning, I found one hiding under a fallen maple leaf in my garden. For a moment I thought it was an earthworm, because that’s how small it was.

A baby DeKay’s Brownsnake is the size of an earthworm.

I took it in my hand for a closer look, and the little animal flicked out its tongue, tasting the air as if to see who I was. It seemed unafraid, but when I put it down, it threaded itself instantly into the leaves.

I watched the spot, but it knew how to be invisible.

I was pleased that my garden supports the larger family that shares our earth. Glad that a DeKay’s Brownsnake found refuge here, and for a moment our life journeys merged.

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