Snakes of Sligo Creek Park

Click on common name for photo and additional information. Revised 7-1-2011

Common Name	Likelihood in Sligo	Appearance	Habitat	Diet	Predators	Biting Hazard
Northern Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix	P	Stout-bodied, with dark brown to chestnut brown blotches shaped like hourglasses alternating with pale patches; triangular head much wider than neck; 1-4 feet; other patterned but non-venomous snakes in Sligo are milk, water, and hognose	Lives mostly on forested hillsides with rock outcroppings & debris at the base, but also in old fields, hedgerows, forest edges, blueberry thickets, high ground in swamps & marshes, suburban woodlots, auto junkyards, ravines cutting though farmland and urban areas; also coastal flatwoods & upland swamps in coastal plain & upland swamps in coastal plain	Adults eat mainly small mammals, such as voles, mice, chipmunks, shrews, moles, young rabbits; also, salamanders, frogs, lizards, skinks, small lsnakes, & insects, incl. large caterpillars; has heat-sensing pits between eye and mouth that detect warm-blooded animals; mostly lie-in-wait; holds small prey until they die; waits for larger prey to die of venom,, then follows scent trail follows scent trail	Eaten by other snakes (kingsnake, black racer, milk snake), hawks; juveniles eaten by shrews, moles, oppossums	Although venomous, bites are almost never fatal; nevertheless, bitten person should seek medical attention immediately; most bites occur after person steps on the snake, places their hand too close to its hiding place, or tried to capture the snake
Eastern Worm Snake Carphophis amoenus	E	Small & trim, 7-12 inches; looks like an earthworm; back is unpatterned brown, belly pinkish	Moist, forested places; gardens	Mainly earthworms; also soft-bodied insects, slugs, & snails	Larger snakes, opossums, short-tailed shrews, moles, & house cats	Does not bite when handled, but attempts to burrow between the fingers
Northern Scarlet Snake Cemophora coccinea copei	P	Striking red-orange blotches outlined in black on a white, yellow, or gray background; belly is white, glossy, transluscent; 1-2 ft; its colors mimic the highly poisonous coral snake, which does not occur in this area	Varied habitats in Piedmont and Coastal Plain, but most common in the sandhills and sandy pine flatwoods of Coastal Plain	Worms, insects, frogs, lizards, snakes, & mice; also reptile eggs, esp. those of smaller snakes
Northern Black Racer Coluber constrictor	E	Uniformly black, with black or dark gray belly; 3-5 feet	Found statewide, most often in dry habitat, such as brushy dunes, maritime forests, rocky hillsides, & upland meadows; but can also occur in marshes and swamps; powerline rights-of-way; grassy areas, open forests near grassy tracts, & brushy edges between grass and woodlands	Relentless and agile hunters with varied diet; eats insects, salamanders, frogs (esp. tree frogs), toads, small turtles, lizards, skinks, snakes (water, worm, ringneck, green, garter, small copperheads); birds and their eggs & nestlings (esp. ground-nesting birds); moles, shrews, voles, mice, chipmmunks, rats, rabbits, & flying squirrels	Large raptors (owls, hawks); mammals; other snakes; because they are so active & wide-ranging, racers are often killed on roads by cars and in lawns by mowers.	If cornered or restrained, will vibrate its tail, actively defend itself by making wild lunges at intruder; but small teeth make only superficial cuts; ordinary clothing is sufficient protection; non-venomous
Northern Ringnecked Snake Diadophis punctatus	E	Dramatic narrow neck-band is set against slate gray or bluish-black background; belly is white, yellow, or orange & same color as neck-band; 1-2 ft.	Rocky slopes, gravel pits, dumps, old stone walls, gardens, meadows, & moist hardwood forests	Salamanders, earthworms, slugs, lizards,juvenile snakes, & insects	Owls, hawks, other snakes, bullfrogs, and mammals	Usually docile when handled, doesn't bite but emits foul musk
Corn Snake or Red Cornsnake Pantherophis guttatus (formerly Elaphe guttata)	C	V. long, 3-6 ft.; prominent reddish-brown blotches outlined with black against a red, gray, orange, or brown background; belly boldly checkered black & white; dark mark on top of head resembles a spear-head.	Most common in coastal plain pine and wire grass flatwoods and sandhills, but also occurs in other forests, fields, grasslands	Powerful constrictors, they eat mice, other small rodents, fledgling birds, & lizards	Small hatchlings are taken by owls, hawks & other raptors; raccoons, skunks; often unnecessarily killed by humans who mistake it for a copperhead.	Placid, not aggressive, rarely bites; it is harmless and helps control rodent populations
Black Rat Snake Elaphe obsolete	C	Large and long, with solid black or brown back; belly is gray	Hardwood forests, brushy fields, farms, forested wetlands, patches of woods in suburbs & cities; barns and outbuildings; sometimes living in trees, occasionally very high, as they are excellent climbers	Almost every type of small or immature rodent, incl. chipmunks, gray squirrels, voles, mice, rats; also frogs, lizards, snakes (incl. small of their own kind), cottontails, snails, insects	Other snakes, large birds, bobcats, foxes, otters, other mammals, great-horned owls, red tailed hawks; automobiles	Some are quite calm and allow people to pick them up without struggling; others more defensive, & will vibrate its tail, raise up its body quite high, bite, and spray foul musk; formerly feared, now used by farmers to control rodent populations
Eastern Hognose Snake Heterodon platyrhinos	E	Most are yellow, orange, reddish, or tan, with dark brown or black blotches; some are plain black or gray; stout-bodied, 20-33 in.	Statewide, but most common in well-drained, sandy or loamy soils in coastal plain; but can also be found in open woods, woods edges, forested hillsides, and woods roads; cultivated and abandoned fields; & overgrown areas in cities and suburbs	Usually 40% toads; 30% frogs, 20% small mammals; 10% salamanders; esp. good at dislocating its lower jaw to eat large prey; has digestive enzymes that neutralize poisons on frogs' skin; also eats snakes, lizards, lizart eggs, hatchling turtles, insects, fish, mice, cipmnks, earthworms, centipedes, spiders, snails	Eaten by wide range of predators (especially of their young), including king snakes, black racers snakes, black rat snakes, red-tailed hawks, & barred owls	When threatened, will puff up its neck, hiss loudly, and lash out with its head, but without biting; almost never bite, but not fun to handle, as they thrash and squirm and eject a foul musk, before feigning dead
Mole Kingsnake Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata	P	Dark brown blotches, outlined in black, against a brown, tan, or reddish background; 2.5-4 ft	Farmland, old brushy fields, pine woods, and mixed pine-hardwood forests; sometimes in grassy or wooded urban settings; perfers moist areas.	Hunts in rodent tunnels and above ground, eating small mammals, birds, small snakes, lizards, frogs, insects; kill by constriction		Non-poisonous
Eastern Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula getula	E	Large & stout, usually all black with striking thin white bands every few inches; 3-4 feet	Hardwood forests, mixed forests, & pine forests; old fields; upland swamps, & areas near creeks	Eats other snakes of many species, incl. garter, water, ring-necked, hognose, black rate, black racers, & copperheads; also mice, voles, lizards, skinks, salamanders & eggs of birds & turtles		Vibrates its tail when disturbed, sounding like rattlesnake if done among dry leaves; if handled, may release pungent musk, constrict the holder's arm, and chew rather than bite in self defense; non-poisonous
Eastern Milk Snake Lampropeltis triangulum	P	Either gray-brown with white bands, outlined in black; or dazzling scarlet with black and white bands; paler coloration vaguely mimics poisonous copperhead; 2-3 ft.	Woodlands, old fields, fencerows, rock outcrops, vacant urban lots, farmland; may venture into barns, basements, & old buildings	Mice, other small rodents; shrews, birds & their eggs and nestlings; frogs, insects, other snakes, & earthworms		Often killed by people who mistake them for copperheads; when threatened, will vibrate its tail, coil, and strike; non-poisonous
Northern Water Snake Nerodia sipedon	C	Extremely variable coloration; thick, heavy body. Background color may be brown, tan, gray, or reddish, usually with dark crossbands or blotches that range from rusty brown to black, separated by more pale intervals; 2-4 ft.	Swamps, marshes, beaver ponds, and border areas of lakes, rivers, streams, brooks; from wilderness to city parks and golf courses; prefers slow waters, but also found in fast moving streams	50% of diet is fish from more than 30 species (usually sick and less vigorous individuals); presence reflects healthy local fish population; also eats frogs, toads, tadpoles, & salamanders; sometimes crayfish, insects, small mammals. Swallows prey alive.	Adults are eaten by kingsnakes, raccoons, & snapping turtles; juveniles eaten by many species.	Will try to escape if confronted by human; will flattenn its body, discharge foul musk, and strike repeatedly; long teeth can inflict nasty wound, but non-poisononous
Rough Green Snake Opheodrys aestivus	P	Long, slender, leaf-green back, well camouflaged; pale yellow belly; 1-2 feet	Brushy woods, vine-tangled thickets at edge of ponds and streams, fence-rows; folk name is "vine snake" for its shape and habitat	Spiders, caterpllars, grasshoppers, crickets, insect & insect larvae	Hawks, shrikes, & domestic cats	Docile when handled, does not bite; strikes threatening pose by opening its mouth wide to show purple-black lining.
Queen Snake Regina septemvittata	P	This is a small, slender aquatic snake with a relatively small, narrow head and a yellow stripe along the lower sides of the body. The body is brown to gray, sometimes with three indistinct darker lines and the belly is usually off-white but may be brownish and marked with four dark brown lines. Juveniles are colored and patterned like the adults. The dark ventral stripes are usually narrow but widen with age.	It is frequently found basking on branches overhanging shallow, rocky streams in agricultural, urban, and forested areas, often with open patches that allow sunlight to reach the substrate. Loose rocks, used for shelter, and overhanging vegetation are usually present.	crayfish which have recently shed their exoskeletons	at risk from siltation and damming of streams	not a savage biter but tends to be docile
Northern Brown Snake Storeria dekayi	E	Small & brown (9-12 inches), with two parallel rows of blackish spots down the back	Damp soil & humus in bogs,swamps, Freshwater marshes, woods, grasslands, old fields, suburbs, cities, vacant lots, cemeteries, parks; most tolerant of disturbed sites of all species native to Sligo	Earthworms, slugs,snails, insects	Domestic cats, opossums, raccoons, skunks, weasels, other snakes
Eastern Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus	C	Slender, with 3 conspicous yellow stripes on a dark brown background; white or yellow spot in front of each eye; 18-26 in., up to 3 ft; similar to garter snake, but much slimmer, longer tail, swifter	Abundant in coastal plain, but also found statewide in marshes, damp meadows, and stream margins; considered semi-aquatic, where it is more likely to be found than similar-looking garter snake	Tadpoles, small frogs, salamanders; also small fish, spiders, insects; rarely earthworms	Raccoons, otters, minks, herons, kingsnakes, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, bass, pickerel	If siezed, will thrash but rarely bites; usually disappear quickly when alarmed
Eastern Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis	C	Distinctive pale stripe down middle of its back, and less prominent yellow stripes down each side (with black spots); greenish-brown to almost black background; 1-4 ft; moves swiftly	Highly varied & most-frequently encountered eastern snake; found in lowlands, uplands, cities, farmland, wilderness; but requires moist habitats such as wet meadows, marshes, damp forests, rocky hillsides, old fields, margins of rivers, creeks, ponds; farm woodlots, quarries, suburbs, trash dumps, gardens, vacant lots in cities & suburbs	90% of diet is salamanders, frogs, and small snakes; the rest is small fish, bird nestlings, mice, young chipmunks, shrews, earthworms, slugs, snails, crayfish, millipedes, spiders, insects, & carrion	Young snakes are eaten by mink, skunks, weasels, raccoons, foxes, cats, dogs, shrews, hawks, owls, herons, pheasants, turkeys, crows, assorted snakes, box turtles, bullfrogs, spotted salamanders, fish; rarely spiders and crayfish	Defends itself aggressively; emits musk and feces; young snakes try to bite; though non-poisonous, handle large adult with care, as bite can lead to profuse bleading because saliva contains anti-coagulant.
Eastern Smooth Earth Snake Virginia valeriae	E	V. small (7-10 inches); gray, brown or reddish back, with dark flecks; belly is white or yellowish	Hardwood and mixed pine-hardwood forests; abandoned fields; pastures, wood edges, moist lowlands, wooded areas in cities & towns	Earthworms, plus occasional slug and other invertebrates		Plays dead when threatened; doesn't bite but emits foul musk odor
TERMS: Fall Line low east-facing cliff paralleling the Atlantic coastline from New Jersey to the Carolinas Coastal Plain generally, area east of fall line; closely approximated by I-95 or Rt. 1; in Sligo, area downstream from just above the Pepco power line corridor near East-West Highway Piedmont area between the fall line & low mountains; in Sligo, everything above the fall line. List, information, and likelhood of occurence developed by Michael Wilpers (Sligo Friends Natural History Committee), based on consultation with Rob Gibbs (Natural Resources Management Group, Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission), direct observation by Sligo members and on the following print or web sources: "List of Amphibians and Reptiles Found in Montgomery County," Mont. Co. Dept. Environmental Protection, 2004 (www.montgomerycountymd.gov); Herbert S. Harris, Jr., "Distributional Survey (Amphibia/Reptilia): Maryland and the District of Columbia," Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society, Vo. 11, no. 3 (Sept.1975), 73-167; Bernard Martof et al., Amphibians and Reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia (Chapel Hill: Univ. of N. Carolina Press, 1980); Charles Fergus, Wildlife of Virginia and Maryland and Washington, DC (Stackpole Books, 2003); R. Conant & J. T Collins, Reptiles and Amphibians, Eastern/Central N. America (Peterson Field Guides, Houghton Mifflin, 1998).