On a recent walk through the woods I stepped over what I thought was a lost gray shoelace or strap amidst the leaves in the center of the trail. I took another step or two before I decided that that interpretation wasn’t quite right, and I turned around to have a better look at this strange item in the trail. I’m glad I did, as it turned out to be a ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus) partially obscured by the fallen leaves in the trail. 

One of our smaller native snakes, ring-necked snakes typically only span 10-20 inches. The one pictured here was approximately a foot long and not much bigger in diameter than a pencil. Their most prominent feature is a distinctive ring around their neck that can range from peachy-yellow to a dark red-orange, against their otherwise slate-gray to bluish-black backs. In an attempt to disturb this snake as little as possible (I imagine it was already pretty freaked out having a large mammal crouched over it in the trail), I did not handle it or flip it over. But if I had, it would have revealed a bright peachy-yellow to red-orange belly to match its “necklace”. When threatened, these snakes will curl up and flip over, exposing their bright orange underside.

“Ringnecks”, as they are affectionately called, are common and can be found throughout Massachusetts. However, they are rarely seen since they are nocturnal and are a rather secretive species. I imagine I only encountered it because I was still in the forest at dusk (trying only semi-successfully to squeeze in a post-work walk on Friday evening before the sun went down). They are more commonly found by looking under rocks, logs or other debris – this also happens to be a great place to find their preferred prey: small salamanders. Around here that probably means the red-backed salamander. To help the snake hold onto this slippery, squirmy meal, ring-necked snakes have a unique pair of elongated teeth towards the rear of their upper jaw.