Snakes of NC -> Non Venomous & Live Birth

Red-bellied Snake

Live Birth: Yes Venomous: No Size: 6.5-12in Habitat: Widely distributed across the state. Found in wiregrass flatwoods, sandhills, swamp margins, open deciduous forests, timbered hillsides and wooded residential areas Food: Small slugs and snails Time of Day: Primarily nocturnal but may be seen during the day *Curls upper lips when handled

Rough Earth Snake

Live Birth: Yes Venomous: No Size: 7-12.5in Habitat: Coastal Plain and much of the Piedmont. Likes pine and wiregrass flatwoods, suburban gardens and urban lots Food: Earthworms Time of Day: Highly fossorial staying underground day and night *Can be found under stones and logs especially in spring

Smooth Earth Snake

Live Birth: Yes Venomous: No Size: 7-13in Habitat: Most of the Carolinas. Found in open woodlands, along forest edges, and wooded residential areas Food: Earthworms Time of Day: Nocturnal *Live bearing snake

Dekay's Brown Snake

Live Birth: Yes Venomous: No Size: 9-18in Habitat: Varying habitats from coastal flatwoods and drier pocosins to upland hardwood forests. Very common in urban and suburban landscapes Food: Slugs and earthworms Time of Day: Nocturnal *When handled they will flatten their heads and bodies and expel musk

Black Swamp Snake

Live Birth: Yes Venomous: No Size: 10-19in Habitat: Coastal Plain in cypress ponds, sphagnum-choked canals, ditches and sluggish lowland streams with lush vegetation Food: Worms, leeches, small fish and amphibians Time of Day: Nocturnal *Species of Special Concern in NC

Glossy Crayfish Snake

Live Birth: Yes Venomous: No Size: 14-30.5in Habitat: Coastal Plain. Largely aquatic, live in creeks, freshwater marshes, cypress ponds, Carolina bays and sphagnum-choked canals Food: Crayfish (will also eat dragonfly naiads, other aquatic insects and small vertebrates) Time of Day: Nocturnal *Uncommon snake that gives birth to live young

Eastern Ribbon Snake

Live Birth: Yes Venomous: No Size: 18-38in Habitat: Found from Coastal Plain to part of the Piedmont. Likes marshes, damp meadows and stream margins Food: Amphibians and small fish Time of Day: Most active during the day but may be active at night *Live bearing snake

Eastern Garter Snake

Live Birth: Yes Venomous: No Size: 18-42in Habitat: Familiar snakes across the state. Found in moist environments under stones or other cover Food: Earthworms, fish and amphibians Time of Day: Day and Night *Mildly toxic saliva to help capture prey

Northern Water Snake

Live Birth: Yes Venomous: No Size: 24-50in Habitat: Mountain lakes, brooks and freshwater areas up to but not including the Coastal Plain Food: Fish and amphibians Time of Day: Day or Night *Often seen basking on logs and other debris

Banded Water Snake

Live Birth: Yes Venomous: No Size: 24-55in Habitat: Tend to be located near freshwater in the Coastal Plain Food: Fish and amphibians Time of Day: Day or night *Where their ranges overlap they may hybridize with the Northern Water Snake

Red-bellied Water Snake

Live Birth: Yes Venomous: No Size: 30-60in Habitat: Coastal Plain, found in river swamps, marshes, lakes and other bodies of usually still or sluggish water. Will move away from water when it is especially humid Food: Fish, toads, and frogs Time of Day: Day or night *Will vigorously defend itself by biting and discharging a foul-smelling musk

Queen Snake

Live Birth: Yes Venomous: No Size: 32-64in Habitat: Rocky streams and rivers in the Piedmont up to the Mountains Food: Freshly molted (soft) crayfish Time of Day: Diurnal (day) near water *Bask on tree limbs over water

Brown Water Snake

Live Birth: Yes Venomous: No Size: 32-64in Habitat: Most abundant in lakes and streams of the Coastal Plain Food: Fish, especially catfish Time of Day: Day or Night *Most arboreal and most aquatic of our water snakes