Texas Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi texana)

13 February 2015: Walking the Wetlands Trail in late winter earlier this year at the Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center in Denton, Texas we came upon this small, non-venomous snake otherwise known as the Texas Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi texana). This specimen was fully grown but was not longer than ten inches and it was sunning on the dried earth of the trail and was completely motionless while we observed and photographed it. We left it in place when we’d completed our observation and went on our way. It is said to grow on average between nine and twelve inches in length when fully mature. Its range extends from Minnesota in the central Upper Midwest south to Texas and beyond into northeastern Mexico. It gives birth to live young in late summer (July-August), hence it is viviparous. This small snake eats snails, earthworms, slugs, and other such similar insects. Here’s a thumbnail sketch or description of Texas Brown Snake from WildlifeNorthAmerica.com: “The Texas Brown Snake is reddish brown with dark brown spots around the eyes. The Texas Brown Snake is variable in color, and can be brown, tan, or brick red. There is a faint lighter stripe down the middle of the back. The top of the head is darker, and there are dark spots on the side of the head.” Because of its extensive range in North America, Texas Brown Snake is an authentic resident of the Western Hemisphere. Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center is administered by the City of Denton, Texas.

Source: “Texas Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi texana),” WildlifeNorthAmerica.com, brief description and photograph, accessed 11.8.15, http://www.wildlifenorthamerica.com/Reptile/Texas-Brown-Snake/Storeria/dekayi-texana.html