Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Midland Brown Snake

Now I know you are all wondering why I am posting a snake here instead of an insect or other tiny little garden creature without a backbone, but I couldn't resist introducing you to the Midland Brown Snake. This adorable, yet tiny snake is native to Missouri. They are approximately the length of a ruler, ranging from 11-14 inches when fully grown. They are a lovely shade of milky brown with speckling on their sides and a lighter colored stripe down their back. The one pictured here is a female, how do I know that? Well let me explain.

 My husband had put up hay last year and discovered this little snake within the hay bale. Knowing my love of all things creepy and crawly he brought her to me in his leather gloved encased hand (after all a snake this tiny might bite...LOL). I thought she was the prettiest little thing I had ever seen and decided to keep her, at least for a little while. I placed her in a large tank, provided her with water and proceeded to try and figure out exactly what species she was and what she would eat. I learned she was the Midland Brown Snake and they feed on slugs and earthworms (gotta love that). I placed a few tiny slugs and worms in her enclosure but she turned her nose up at them. After a week of refusing to eat I made the decision to let her go. I awoke early one Saturday morning and went down stairs to retrieve her and let her go....and got a huge surprise. She had given birth to 10 babies overnight. Eight of them were wiggling around in the cage all over her. Two of them were still encased in their embryonic sacks. I carefully peeled those sack away and preserved the two dead specimens to use for school programs. It isn't very often you get to see a newborn snake. I knew my students would love to learn about them. The remaining snakes were taken outside so I could snap these photos. When I reached into the container, I got another surprise. This seemingly docile snake turned into the Mother of the Year with her aggressiveness towards me. She lunged and bit at me. She was displaying obvious protective tendencies toward her offspring.


When we think of reptiles we often think of cold blooded, calculated hunters incapable of feelings. I'm not sure she was experiencing any kind of maternal love for her prodigy but she certainly felt compelled to keep  me at bay. It is funny to me, how a snake barely a foot long, that does not possess venom, and has no real ability to hurt you can still make you jump when it lunges for you.....LOL. I took pity on her and released her and the babies to my garden. Where they can feast on the ample supply of slugs and tiny earthworms that reside there.

11 comments:

  1. What a great story, and a beautiful little snake to boot! Lucky you! You are completely forgiven for the inclusion of vertebrae.

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  2. LOL....Thank you Geek. I had a feeling all would be forgiven when you take one look at that adorable little face.hehehe

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  3. Great story! I love how she seems to have a set of lower eyelashes in the first shot, and you're right about her lovely milk-chocolate coloring, so beautiful. I don't have venom, either, or children, but I suspect I'd lash out at anyone threatening them if I had them, LOL. ;)

    I know we think of reptiles as cold, but don't alligator mothers care lovingly for their babies? I thought I'd read that somewhere, but don't quote me.

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  4. I think it is great that she was so protective, it endeared her to me. I have heard that about alligators and crocodiles too. I know there are a rare few reptiles that exhibit that protective instinct.

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  5. how exciting. She is GORgeous. Very elegant and lady like. How amazing that you got to witness that, and I'm psyched you set them all free. A good example for your students. =)

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  6. Thank you Biobabbler (love the name)I was very fortunate to be at the right place at the right time....isn't that what life's most exciting moments are all about? I keep hoping I'll catch sight of one of these little guys as I work in my gardens....but so far that has not happened. They probably headed for greener pastures...lol

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  7. I didn't think many snakes gave live birth besides pythons?

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  8. You're right there aren't very many that give live birth,rather they lay eggs. There are a few in Missouri that do however bear live young, the Midland Brown is one; as is all species of Garter Snakes, Yellow-Bellied Water Snake, Broad-Banded Water Snake, Diamond Back Water Snake, Northern Water Snake, Graham's Crayfish Snake, Northern Red-Bellied Snake, Western Ribbon Snake, Lined Snake, Rough Earth Snake, Western Earth Snake, And all of Missouri's venomous snakes are live bearing, and they include the Osage Copperhead, Western Cottonmouth, Timber Rattlesnake, Pygmy Rattlesnake and the endangered Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. I felt so fortunate to be able to see these babies right after she had given birth and to be able to let them go into my garden. They were so incredibly tiny, barely 3 inches long.

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  9. This helped me a lot. My husband brought home a snake that looked exactly like this one a few months ago. We thought it was a bull snake though so we tried to feed her crickets. She has been eating the crickets but today we went in the living room and found she had given birth to a baby! We were so surprised. Its still just the one right now but I am keeping an eye on them. They look exactly like the pictures you posted. So thanks for posting this!

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  10. My daughter caught a midland brown snake and brought it home. We put some slugs and a little worm in for her to eat but hasn't touched either.

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    1. I love these little snakes and I am so glad your daughter found one and is trying to care for it. What a great experience. It's not that uncommon for newly captured snakes to refuse to eat. Often they are scared or feel threatened in some way. Plus the environment is new to them. Generally they adjust pretty quickly and will eat just fine. I'd say give it a week or two and keep trying off and on to get it to eat, make sure it has fresh water too. If after 2 weeks or so, it still hasn't eaten she might consider releasing it and maybe catching a new one. Just like people...snakes all have different personalities and some adapt better than others. Tell her I said good luck and wish the best with her friend. 😊

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