Snake Key


Colors refer to top of snake.  The colors in parentheses refer to the color and pattern of the belly. In square brackets are differences in juvenile snakes.

Eastern Smooth Snake Green. (White or yellow)
Dekay's Brown Snake Brown. (Cream or pinkish) [Three yellowish spots on neck.]
Northern Redbellied Snake Three spots on neck -- light brown or yellow. Reddish brown or grey brown. (Orange-red, may have dark spots)
Northern Ringneck Snake Neck ring. Steel blue, slate or brown. (Orange-yellow)
Eastern Garter Snake Three long stripes -- yellow or yellow-green. May have dark scales or spots between stripes.  Some are all black, no stripes. (Yellowish-green)
Northern Water Snake Blotches. Blotches may be obscured making snake look black or brown. (Cream, irregular rows of reddish half moon cresents)
Eastern Milk Snake Blotches.  Heavy black-bordered and contrasty. (Yellow-grey. Greenish-grey pattern) [Red blotches bordered in black]
Eastern Hognose Snake Light blotches or plain grey, green-brown or black in color. (White with black checkerboard pattern)