DeKay's brown snake (Storeria dekayi)

No. The DeKay's brown snake is non-venomous: it belongs to the family Colubridae, not to the pit vipers or coral snakes, the only U.S. land snakes with medically dangerous venom. It may bite if handled; clean the bite like any small wound.

Records are spread over 35 states; the top three, Texas, Ohio and North Carolina, hold 37% of them.

Across the U.S., observation records of the DeKay's brown snake run mostly March through November, peaking in April with 15% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 5% of them.

Observation records run through most of the year in Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas. Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in February (Arkansas and South Carolina) and latest in April (Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin). The most common peak month is March, shared by Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Texas holds 1,037 licensed records, the 12th most recorded of 86 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Travis County, Brazos County and Harris County. Next come Brazoria County (58) and Chambers County (46).

Ohio holds 959 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 25 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Ohio run mostly April through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Summit County, Ottawa County and Cuyahoga County. Next come Erie County (62) and Franklin County (45).

North Carolina holds 922 licensed records, the 9th most recorded of 39 snakes listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly March through November, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Wake County, Durham County and Orange County. Next come Mecklenburg County (44) and Moore County (34).

Virginia holds 545 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 30 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly March through November, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Prince William County, Fairfax County and Arlington County. Next come Northampton County (43) and Accomack County (17).

Pennsylvania holds 509 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 20 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Pennsylvania run mostly March through November, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Erie County, Montgomery County and Allegheny County. Next come Philadelphia County (44) and Warren County (41).

Oklahoma holds 359 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 50 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Oklahoma run mostly March through November, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Cleveland County, Oklahoma County and Marshall County. Next come Pottawatomie County (24) and McClain County (22).

Michigan holds 355 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 17 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Michigan run mostly April through October, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Washtenaw County, Ottawa County and Isabella County. Next come Monroe County (24) and Wayne County (16).

Kansas holds 327 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Kansas run mostly March through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Douglas County, Johnson County and Cherokee County. Next come Riley County (16) and Russell County (14).

Illinois holds 313 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 33 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Illinois run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Cook County, Jo Daviess County and Lake County. Next come Will County (19) and DuPage County (15).

Maryland holds 309 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 20 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Maryland run mostly March through October, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Prince George's County, Baltimore County and Montgomery County. Next come Howard County (33) and Anne Arundel County (17).

New York holds 297 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 17 snakes listed there. Its observation records in New York run mostly March through October, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Chemung County, Tompkins County and Erie County. Next come Schuyler County (18) and Bronx County (15).

Louisiana holds 224 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 41 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Louisiana run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from East Baton Rouge Parish, Orleans Parish and Lafayette Parish. Next come Natchitoches Parish (14) and Jackson Parish (11).

Alabama holds 223 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Alabama run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Lee County, Coosa County and Calhoun County. Next come Jefferson County (11) and Blount County (8).

Georgia holds 218 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly March through November, peaking in March; most licensed records come from DeKalb County, Fulton County and Clarke County. Next come Cobb County (14) and Oconee County (10).

Indiana holds 151 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 27 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Indiana run mostly March through November, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Marion County, Tippecanoe County and Porter County. Next come Knox County (9) and Lake County (8).

Missouri holds 122 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 36 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Missouri run mostly March through November, peaking in March; most licensed records come from St. Louis County, Holt County and Lewis County. Next come Texas County (6) and Boone County (4).

Tennessee holds 116 licensed records, the 10th most recorded of 32 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Knox County, Cheatham County and Montgomery County. Next come Hamilton County (7) and Shelby County (7).

Massachusetts holds 84 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 13 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Massachusetts run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Middlesex County, Suffolk County and Plymouth County. Next come Norfolk County (8) and Worcester County (8).

New Jersey holds 84 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 18 snakes listed there. Its observation records in New Jersey run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Middlesex County, Burlington County and Monmouth County. Next come Mercer County (9) and Bergen County (8).

Mississippi holds 82 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 38 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Mississippi come from Marion County, Simpson County and Hancock County. Next come Harrison County (8) and Lafayette County (8).

Arkansas holds 79 licensed records, the 14th most recorded of 36 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Arkansas run mostly February through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Washington County, Columbia County and Benton County. Next come Pulaski County (7) and Garland County (4).

South Carolina holds 79 licensed records, the 22nd most recorded of 40 snakes listed there. Its observation records in South Carolina run mostly February through October, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Greenville County, Richland County and Lexington County. Next come Oconee County (5) and Berkeley County (5).

Connecticut holds 64 licensed records, the joint 7th most recorded of 14 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Connecticut come from New Haven County, Fairfield County and Middlesex County. Next come Hartford County (5) and New London County (4).

West Virginia holds 63 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 18 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in West Virginia come from Randolph County, Preston County and Jefferson County. Next come Mineral County (2) and Nicholas County (2).

Wisconsin holds 60 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 16 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Wisconsin run mostly April through October, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Juneau County, Dane County and Grant County. Next come Racine County (4) and Door County (3).

Records of the DeKay's brown snake span old collections and new observations: 47% date from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 2011. The oldest dated record is from 1853; the busiest year was 2025, with 608 records.

Of the 402 counties where the DeKay's brown snake is most recorded, 222 are also top counties for the common garter snake, more than for any other snake. Venomous species among its neighbors: the eastern copperhead.

Other members of the family Colubridae with profiles here: Western terrestrial garter snake, Common garter snake, Gopher snake, Ring-necked snake, Northern water snake and Eastern racer.