Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)

Group Snakes
Code ARADB34010
Order Squamata
Family Colubridae
Author (Holbrook, 1842)
Rank G5 (definitions)
Occurrence P (definitions)
Scale C (definitions)

County List:

Western UP Menominee
Eastern UP none
Northern LP all
Southern LP all

Rule:

Mixed Forested/Nonforested or Nonforested Landscapes

      (Any Forested Upland Except Conifer Plantations (Regen or Sap or Pole or Sm Saw)
      or (Any Forested Lowland (Regen or Sap or Pole or Sm Saw)
      or Grass
      or Upland Brush
      or Savanna
      or Fields/Pasture
      or Residential
      or Marsh 2
      or Sedge Meadow
      or Bog
   containing:
      (Dead Down Woody Debris or Rock)
view decision rule term definitions

Habitat List:

Habitats Regen Sap Pole Sm Saw Lg Saw Uneven
Aspen YESYESYESYESno-
Paper Birch YESYESYESYESno-
Oak YESYESYESYESnono
Assorted Hardwoods YESYESYESYESnono
Northern Hardwoods YESYESYESYESnono
Spruce/Fir YESYESYESYESnono
Hemlock YESYESYESYESnono
Jack Pine YESYESYESYESnono
Red Pine YESYESYESYESnono
White Pine YESYESYESYESnono
Conifer Plantations nonononono-
Mixed Upland Hardwoods YESYESYESYESnono
Mixed Northern Hardwoods YESYESYESYESnono
Mixed Upland Conifer YESYESYESYESnono
Mixed Pine YESYESYESYESnono
Swamp Hardwoods YESYESYESYESnono
Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch YESYESYESYESnono
Bottomland Hardwoods YESYESYESYESnono
Tamarack YESYESYESYESnono
Northern White Cedar YESYESYESYESnono
Black Spruce YESYESYESYESnono
Mixed Lowland Hardwoods YESYESYESYESnono
Mixed Lowland Conifer YESYESYESYESnono
Non-ForestedGrass, Upland Brush, Savanna, Fields/Pastures, Residential, Marsh 2 (MARSH), Sedge Meadow, Bog or Muskeg
Special FeaturesDead Down Woody Debris, Rock

view size class definitions

Literature:

Holman, J. A., J. H. Harding, M. M. Hensley, and G. R. Dudderar. 1999. Michigan snakes a field guide and pocket reference. Co-operative Extension Service, Michigan State University. 72 pp.

The brown snake is secretive and is usually found in moist locations hiding under flat objects. They are often found in vacant city lots and disturbed areas.

This species eats worms and slugs.


DeGraaf, R. M. and D. D. Rudis. 1986. New England wildlife: habitat, natural history, and distribution. GTR NE-108. Broomall, PA:USDA, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 491 pp.

Habitat: Ubiquitous, found in urban and rural areas, dry or moist situations, vacant lots, parks, trash piles. May be abundant along railroad tracks. In the wild found in damp woods, swamps, clearings, bogs, roadsides, open fields. Hides under stones, banks, logs, brush piles, leaves. Rare in old-growth forests.


Hunter, M. L., J. Albright, and J. Arbuckle (editors). 1992. The amphibians and reptiles of Maine. Maine Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 838. 188p.

Habitat: An ecological characteristic of the northern brown snake is its ability to live under highly diverse conditions from rural to urban and from dry to moist. Specific habitats include bogs, marshes, swamps, grasslands, forests, trash-littered lots, parks, and cemeteries. Usually hide under stones, logs, or other debris.