Brown Snakes in Virginia
North American brown snakes, unlike their Australian counterparts, are non-venomous and pose little danger to humans. They are brown with dark spots and stripes along their backs and typically grow to no more than 21 inches in length. These small snakes are often found in gardens, woodlands, and residential areas. Due to their resemblance to copperheads, many brown snakes are mistakenly killed in suburban areas.
Brown Snake Habitat
Brown snakes are often found in residential and urban settings, where they tend to hide beneath trash rather than stones like many other snakes. Active mainly at night, they hibernate during the winter months. Birds of prey and larger snakes are their main predators. These elusive snakes feed on slugs, snails, earthworms, grubs, and beetles.
Brown Snake Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers
Brown snakes are nonvenomous and pose no harm to humans, but they are frequently mistaken for the venomous copperhead and killed when spotted in suburban areas. Unlike copperheads, they lack the distinctive hourglass pattern. These harmless snakes help gardens by feeding on soft-bodied invertebrates like slugs and earthworms. Additionally, their presence can help reduce populations of pests that might damage plants.
If brown snakes are causing problems on your property, it’s advisable to reach out to a professional pest control service for safe removal.
