Posted by Greg Lane on September 30, 2005

Q: I have found three very small snakes in our swimming pool in Mobile, and would like to ID them to make sure they aren't going to be a problem when they get bigger. Two were about 6" long, dark grey with thin longitudinal black stripes along the body, and are salmond color on their underside. They have a yellow patch behind their heads. The other snake was a light brown color, but escaped before I could catch it. Any idea what they are and if they'll come back dangerous if I release them in the garden (maybe the neighbors's garden) ?

Thanks for your help

Habitat: suburban/yard

State: Alabama

Habitat: suburban/yard

A: I bet they were Red-bellied Snakes. Red-bellied snakes are variable in dorsal color, but are typically brownish with several stripes running down the body and a red belly. They usually have three pale spots on the neck just behind the head and rough scales (each scale has a keel down its center.) I have found individuals with gray, tan and reddish-brown dorsal coloration.

Red-bellied Snakes are small, harmless animals, usually no more than 10 or so inches long. They eat slugs, earthworms and other invertebrates and are a important addition to the ecological community in your yard. They are fairly common throughout the eastern US.

Another snake you might find in your yard is the Brown Snake. Brown snakes are also small, growing only up to 13 inches or so in length, and are brownish on top with two rows of dark spots down the back. They usually exhibit a dark downward streak on the side of the head behind the eye, a dark spot below the eye and a dark blotch on each side of the neck. Often the color on the back between the rows of spots is lighter than the color on the sides, forming a light stripe down the middle of the back.

In Alabama you are likely to find midland brown snakes — in this subspecies the two parallel rows of dark spots are typically joined across the back, forming dark bars in a ladder-like pattern.

Brown snakes are secretive and harmless, eating mostly earthworms, slugs and other soft-bodied invertebrates.

Hope this helps.

Solon Morse ( October 1, 2005)