back yard snakes in CT.
Posted by susan murphy on June 20, 2006
Q: what type of snake is it that is in my friends back yard wood pile and under the garden shed, it has a orange stripe on the back of it.
Habitat: suburban/yard
State: Connecticut
Habitat: suburban/yard
A: Your snake may be an Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus). This is a very slim snake that usually has a midline stripe that is yellow but may be orange too. Ribbon Snakes like wet areas so are often found near waterways. This species feeds on salamanders, frogs, and small fish. Hope this helps. You may want to google this species to see if it looks correct. You may also want to pick up a field guide to reptiles for future reference. The Peterson field guides are especially good and can be obtained on line from the Peterson Institute. Thanks for asking.
John Wiessinger ( June 20, 2006)