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one of my Girl Scouts sent me a picture of a snake she found, can I get a positive ID on it from you if I send a picture? #744283

Asked April 14, 2021, 11:58 AM EDT

one of my Girl Scouts sent me a picture of a snake she found, can I get a positive ID on it from you if I send a picture?

Shelby County Tennessee

Expert Response

 

 

Confidential, unpublished property of Cigna. Do not duplicate or distribute. Use and distribution limited solely to authorized personnel. 2021 Cigna

 

Darla R Joure RPh  | Clinical Consult Specialist Pharmacist

Accredo, an Express Scripts Specialty Pharmacy| 1640 Century Center Parkway | Memphis, TN  38134

|Darla<personal data hidden> |<personal data hidden> ext 218513

 

From: Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2021 10:58 AM
To: Joure, Darla (MPH) <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Thank you for your Ask Extension question (#0014214)

 

 

Dear darla,

Thank you for using Ask Extension. A request for support has been created and a representative will follow-up with you as soon as possible. You can view this question's progress online.

YOUR QUESTION #0014214:

one of my Girl Scouts sent me a picture of a snake she found, can I get a positive ID on it from you if I send a picture?

one of my Girl Scouts sent me a picture of a snake she found, can I get a positive ID on it from you if I send a picture?

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The Question Asker Replied April 14, 2021, 12:08 PM EDT

Yes, please respond to this message with a reply that contains the photograph of the snake, and I will identify it for you. It will help if you let me know where it was found closest city/town or county.

Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.

Jim

 

 

Memphis TN in inner city yardimage


This e-mail message and any attachments contain confidential information from Accredo. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that disclosure, printing, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this electronic information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail message in error, please immediately notify the sender by reply message and then delete the electronic message and any attachments. Accredo Health, Incorporated and Accredo Health Group, Inc. are wholly owned subsidiaries of Express Scripts Holding Company.
The Question Asker Replied April 14, 2021, 3:26 PM EDT

Snake Found in inner city yard Memphis TN – mom stated the one in the picture was dead but that they had a lot of them in their yard. Mom said head, tail and belly indicated to her a non poisonous snake, to me, small snakes are harder to tell about their head shape and I am unaware of belly and tail anatomy that differs with poisonous snakes so maybe you can clue me in—I love snakes but I don’t usually mess with any that I encounter in the wild (no unknown snakes for me)

The Question Asker Replied April 14, 2021, 3:30 PM EDT

Thank you for the photograph. 

The snake in your photo is an adult Brownsnake, scientific name Storeria dekayi. It is a non-venomous species.

There are several subspecies of brownsnake distributed from the east coast and as far west as portions of Texas. Based on your location this is most likely the Midland Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi wrightorum).

Maximum length for this species is approximately 18 inches and typical length is approximately 12 inches.

They are found in both hardwood and pine forests, and can be found in dry areas of swamps, in floodplains and creek bottoms. They are also very common in urban settings, and are frequently found in gardens living under mulch, pine straw or fallen leaves. They can also be found living in tall grass.

They feed primarily on earthworms and slugs, but will also eat snails, spiders, insects, and even small salamanders.

If you'd like to learn more about snake species in your area, here is an excellent field guide/reference:

Gibbons, Whit. (2017). Snakes Of The Eastern United States. Athens: The University of Georgia Press.

I hope this answers your question, and thank you for contacting Ask Extension.

Jim

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