snake id
Posted by jason helton on August 23, 2005
Q: I recently walked down the steps of our deck and saw a baby snake. I ended up catching it to try and I.D. it. My wife has seen similar snakes numerous times in the yard and is going crazy. She doesn't even want the dogs to go outside. The snake is about eight inches in length with either a dark brown or black head and what appears to be a yellow band right behind the head. The body of the snake is a darker gray.
Habitat: suburban/yard
State: North Carolina
Habitat: suburban/yard
A: You saw a Ringneck Snake. Ringnecks are small (15"), entirely harmless invertebrate-eating snakes found throughout the eastern and midwestern US. There are many subspecies of ringneck — you would probably encounter the Northern Ringneck in your area. Ringneck snakes typically have dark grey to black backs, dark heads, yellow to red bellies (often darker red toward the tail) with black spots on the belly and a pale ring around the neck. The ring around the neck is diagnostic.
Solon Morse ( August 23, 2005)