Red-bellied Snake
HarmlessStoreria occipitomaculata · also called fire snake
A tiny woodland snake with a vivid red underside that is often the only thing anyone notices about it. It eats slugs almost exclusively and spends most of its time under logs and leaf litter.
Quick facts
- Venom
- Harmless. Non-venomous and too small to be of any concern.
- Adult length
- 8–12 inches (20–30 cm)
- Markings
- Grey, brown or nearly black above, sometimes with a faint pale stripe, and a startlingly bright orange or red belly. Three pale spots usually sit just behind the head.
- Habitat
- woods, wetland, suburban
- Family
- colubrid
- Range
- 33 US states
How to identify a red-bellied snake
- Bright red or orange belly, sharply demarcated from the dull upper side.
- Three pale spots on the neck, sometimes joining into a collar.
- Under a foot long and very slender.
- Curls its upper lip in a strange sneer when handled.
What it does when it sees you
Secretive and harmless. Does not bite.
What the red-bellied snake is confused with
One test settles each of these.
Brownsnakes have a pale pink or cream belly, not a vivid red one.
Ring-necked snakes have a complete pale ring right around the neck and a glossy slate-grey back.
Where it lives
Before anything else
- Back away and leave it alone. A snake that can see you leaving has no reason to bite. Most bites in the United States happen to people who picked up, cornered, or tried to kill a snake.
- Never handle a snake to identify it. Every identification on this site can be made from a photo or from several feet away.
- If someone is bitten, call emergency services now. Keep the limb still and below the heart, remove rings and watches, and go to hospital. Do not cut, suck, apply ice, or use a tourniquet — all of these make outcomes worse.
- Do not try to catch the snake for identification. A photo from a distance is enough, and hospitals treat symptoms rather than species.
In the US, the Poison Help line is 1-800-222-1222. This site is a reference, not medical advice.