Common Name:
Redbelly snake
Scientific Name:
Storeria occipitomaculata
Unique Qualities:
The first thing anyone notices of the redbelly snake is the red belly! These night-dwelling creatures are brown, gray or black and have a single broad light stripe or four faint narrow stripes down the back. The belly is usually red, but it can also be orange or yellow.
Can be Seen:
Redbelly snakes can be seen from eastern Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia.
Likes to Hang Out:
Redbelly snakes love to hang out on the edges of wooded areas in fields, meadows, and abandoned farms.
Likes to Eat:
Slugs and other invertebrates such as earthworms and insects make up a redbelly snake’s diet. Sometimes they’ll climb shrubs or trees to get their food.
Status:
The snakes are practically gone in places with little forest cover. Some snakes are found dead on the roads because of traffic. But, when they have a good habitat, the redbelly snakes can be one of the more common snakes in Canada.
Find Out More @:
Map credit: The redbelly snake habitat map is Copyright Earth Day Canada and uses a map by Planiglobe. The original map is licensed under a Creative Commons Attibution 2.5 license.
