Brown Snake

Breeding:
Live-bearing. Mates spring and fall; 3-31 young, 3 ¼ - 4 ½ “ long, are born June to
September.

Habitat:
Moist upland woodland to lowland freshwater and saltwater marshes; margins of swaps, bogs, and ponds; vacant lots, gardens, golf course.

Range:
S. Maine, s. Quebec, and s. Minnesota, south to lower Florida Keys, and though Texas and México to n. Honduras.

Subspecies:
Eight; 5 in our ranges. Wide zones of intergradations occur between races.
Northern, vertical or diagonal dark bar on temporal scale on side of head usually extends though 6th and 7th lip scales; s. Main and s. Quebec to Virginia. Intergrades with Midland from Michigan to Carolinas.
Marsh, horizontal dark bar on temporal scale, 6th or 7th lip scales unmarked; coastal marshes; Colorado Co., Texas, eat though Louisiana, Mobile Bay and Pensacola.
Texas, no bar on temporal scale; large blotch on nape of neck extends downward to belly scales; Minnesota to Texas, south into México.
Florida, 15 scale rows )all others 17), light band across head; se. Georgia to Florida Keys.
Midland, similar to Northern, except parallel spots fused by narrow crossbands; Illinois and Indian south to s. Mississippi, s. Alabama and sw. Georgia. Intergrades with Texas in c. Wisconsin, e. Illinois, w. Missouri, Arkansas , and Louisiana.

Diurnal, but nocturnal in warm weather. Hides under flat rocks, logs, or trash. Usually found near water or damp places. Feeds on earthworms, slugs and snails. Large number may congregate to hibernate together.