Rough Earthsnake
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Scientific Name:
Haldea striatula Terrestrial
Native
Snakes
Nonvenomous
Description
A small snake- 6 to 12 inches long. Gray, tan, brown, or slate gray above, pale yellow or whitish below. May have a faint, pale collar. Scales are keeled (ridged) and in 17 rows.
Range and Habitat
Found in well-drained wooded and forested areas throughout the state but absent from coastal marshes and the Mississippi River floodplain. Thrive in yards in urban and suburban settings where they conceal themselves in leaf litter, mulch, and groundcover plants.
Behavior
Burrow in leaf litter and wood pulp but also be found under trash and other objects, chiefly in wooded areas. Feed almost exclusively on earthworms. Give birth to 4 to 9 young.
Population Status
Populations are considered stable within the state.