Identification- 8-12" One of our smallest snakes.  Dorsal coloration ranges from dark gray to russet brown.  Belly usually some shade of red, orange or pink.  There are 3 light spots on neck.  Keeled scales, anal plate divided.
    Similar Species- Brown Snake has paired row of spots down the back, plain belly.

Range- Redbelly Snakes are found in all parts of our range, provided that proper habitat exists.
 

Habitat-  Open woods.  Edges of fields, woods, hedgerows.

Reproduction-  Mates spring and fall.  Up to 21 (typically 8-12) young born late summer, early autumn.  Young are similar to adults, 2.5-4" long at birth.  Mature in two years.

General Characteristics-
    A pretty little snake, Redbellies are quite secretive and usually found only by turning cover.  They are gentle, and seldom bite.  When molested they curl their upper lip as a defensive display.  Why noone knows.  Like their close cousing the Brown Snake they make decent captives, feeding readily on earthworms, slugs, and insects.  These are one of our more common snakes in proper habitat.