Worm Snake

Worm Snakes are one of the smallest snakes found in this area. With their small heads and brown coloration they look a lot like an earthworm. They spend most of their lives underground but can be found under boards and rocks if conditions are not too dry. They mainly feed on insect larva. The above specimen was found and photographed at Raven Knob.

Ringneck Snakes

These are very common snakes but are not commonly seen unless you are looking under debri to find them. Adults are usually about 12 in. at the longest. They feed on worms and slugs. They are usually found in moist areas in forest or at the forest edge. The photo below is of a hatchling I found, note the small size.

Brown and Redbelly Snakes

These two species are closely related. Both are very common but not commonly seen snakes due their secretive habits. Adults usually measuring under 12 in. in length. Favorite food items include worms and slugs. The Brown Snake below was found in my yard where several can be found on cool fall days.
Redbelly Snakes do not seem to be as common near human habitation like Brown Snakes but are common within woodland communities.

Rough Green Snake

Green Snakes are a rather common snake that are usually found in bushes where they hunt insects. They are one of the few insect eating snakes. Due to their color they are difficult to spot. Last season I was only able to find road killed specimens.

Eastern Garter Snake

Garter Snakes are characterized by their three longitudinal stripes. They are usually found not too far from water where they find their favorite prey items such as fish, frogs and toads.Frightened individuals may flatten themselves to war of the threat. They can also produce a fowl smelling musk if handled.

Below is a specimen found in Surry Co.

They are often found in meadows such as this one in Carroll Co. Virginia

Eastern Ribbon Snake

The Ribbon Snake is a slender species of Garter Snake that is usually found close to water where it feeds on fish and frogs. In Surry Co. they do seem to be as common as the Eastern Garter Snake.

Northern Water Snake

The Northern Water Snake is a common resident of most permanent bodies of water in this area. They are often seen basking around the water on warm days. They feed on fish, frogs and toads. They are often confused for the venomous Cottonmouth or Water Moccasin which is found far from this region. Cottonmouths are restricted to the coastal plain in NC. They can be aggressive and will often bite when handled.

Queen Snake

This is semi-aquatic snake related to Water Snakes that are usually found in fast moving streams. They feed almost only on newly shed crayfish. Many of the streams in Surry Co. support a population of Queen Snakes including Lovills Creek behind Mt Airy High School.

Hognose Snake

The Hognose Snake is characterized by their upturned snout which is used to dig up their favorite prey...toads. This snake is not very common in Surry Co. Range maps show it occurring throughout the county but they have actually only been documented in the southern and eastern parts of the Surry Co.
This snake is well known for its ability to play dead when threatened as these three individuals did when uncovered under a piece of tin. If flipped upright they will promptly flip over again. They will also flatten their necks and strike to ward off a threat. However, they will not bite.

Black Racer

The Black Racer is a fast moving, alert ant warmth loving snake. It is one of the most common snakes on the coastal plain and southern piedmont but it is not as abundant in this area. Sometimes they are confused with the Black Ratsnake. See the Black Ratsnakes description below for differences. Black Racers feed mainly on lizards snakes and sometimes rodents. When handled they are much more prone to bite than the Black Ratsnake.

Young racers will be patterned and develop the overall black coloration as they age.

Below is a juvenile found in Surry Co.

Eastern Milk Snake

Milk Snakes are a species of kingsnake. This species is not a commonly encountered species in this region. They are only found in the mountains and foothills of this area. They are a secretive species usually found under debri where they hunt prey items such as mice and lizards. They occassionally are found in the Raven Knob area. Like most all kingsnakes they are docile.

Scarlet King Snake

The Scarlet King Snake is a very rarely encountered snake in this region. They are more common in the pine woods of the coastal plain. The only population in the upper piedmont on NC is one that lies in Hanging Rock State Park. This park seems to be the isolated home to a few reptiles that are more likely to be found on the coastal plain than the piedmont, which probably says something about the geologic history of this region. This species is very secretive and perfers rather dry places where it hunts its main food source, lizards.

Mole King Snake

The Mole King is a rarely seen snake in this region. They are secretive and are rarely found about and they only occur in the southern edge of Surry Co. Like other kingsnakes they feed on snakes, lizards and rodents. They are very docile and rarely bite. I have only found this species around some abandoned buildings and trash piles around the Surry Co lanfill.

Eastern Kingsnake

The Eastern Kingsnake or Chain Kingsnake is a rather large snake, up to five feet in length, that is not a common site in this region. This species is much more common in the eastern part of the state. It is known for its ability to consume venomous snakes which they can do so easily since they are immune to their venom. However, adults mainly feed upon rodents. This is a rather secretive species often found near water but not in water.

The photos above and below are typical looking specimens from this area. These are specimens from southern Surry Co.

Late last summer I found this DOR (dead on the road) specimen in western Surry Co.that looked quite different from most of the Eastern Kings found in Surry Co. It has very thin white bands and looks a lot like the intergrade Eastern and Black kings found further to the west. This indicates that gene flow from the Black Kings of the Tennesse Valley region flows further east than has previously been thought. This is a topic that needs to be studied more and my find has been of interest to biologist that study such things.

Venomous Snakes

Copperhead--This species is one of the most common of all snakes in this area. Even though their bite to humans is not life threatening it cause great pain and tissue damage. They are found in a variety of habitats throughout the region from wooded areas, farmlands and meadows. Adults feed mainly on rodents while young feed on frogs and other small vertebrates. Other snakes are often confused for coperheads but the hourglass like pattern is unique to this species in our area. Young copperheads have a yellowish tail they use to lure frogs. They hunt at night during warmer parts of the year. The specimen below was found unde some tin on a warm spring day.


                                        This is a specimen from Guilford Co.

 

This is a specimen from Surry Co.

Timber Rattlesnake--This is the only 

Rattlesnake species found in this region. Unlike Copperheads it is mainly a snake found on large tracts of undeveloped land, which is becoming scarce now days and thus this species is becoming scarce. This is a protected species in NC. In this area they are only found in the Raven Knob and the more remote parts of Low Gap and in isolated pockets in the Sauratown Mountains. They will gather in groups to spend the winter. These den sites are usually rocky south facing slopes. Females will usually not venture far from these sites, using the rocks to warm themselves in order to incubate their young which are born alive in late summer. This is not an aggressive species and bites from Timber Rattlers are rare but can be serious.

The photo above and below are of a well known den site in Stokes Co. This population was studied by a biologist that is friends of my father. Radio telementry was implanted in the snakes which allowed the snakes to be tracked. A lot of useful information was gained from this project such as the slow growth and low reproductivity of this species which makes it difficult for this species to rebound from population losses.
These rocky dens are also used by other species such as Copperheads and many non-venomous snakes can be found on these rocky slopes too.