BABY SNAKE
Posted by chris gilbert on October 2, 2005
Q: We found a hatchling snake at our lake house and are unsure what it is. It is a black snake with a red ring around its neck. The belly was a lighter color.
Thank you for helping!
State: Florida
A: Sounds like a ringneck snake. While there are several subspecies of ringneck in the US, most have dark backs and heads with a pale yellow or orangish ring just behind the head, and yellow to red bellies. Some subspecies have black moon-shaped spots on the belly as well. In Florida you would encounter the Southern Ringneck — this one does have spots on the belly and often a ring broken by dark pigment on the back of the neck.
Ringnecks are beautiful, harmless little snakes that never get much larger than about 10-14" in length. They eat salamanders, lizards, earthworms and frogs and are often common in wooded areas.
Thanks for asking.
Solon Morse ( October 2, 2005)