If they encounter a predator, Rough Earth Snakes may lie still or play dead until the threat passes. Rough earth snakes may be brown, gray or even reddish but have no patterns or coloration except for a light band around the neck in juveniles. At first glance, they may be mistaken as an earthworm, as even the largest specimens are generally less than 10 inches in length! Although they may be encountered in small groups, earth snakes are completely harmless and have never been known to bite even when handled (If necessary, these snakes can be safely picked up and relocated, but like any wild animal, one should avoid handling as much as possible). The Rough Earth Snake is a very small, fossorial (burrowing) species, typically only found when gardening or doing yard work that requires digging. Home owners will not find garter snake eggs on their property, as these snakes actually bear live young and do not lay eggs at all!
![snake black and white game snake black and white game](https://image.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/snakes-ladders-black-white-board-260nw-1060407674.jpg)
The are easily identified by three yellow strips running down the length of their bodies, with a checkerboard pattern of spots between the stripes. If disturbed, a garter snake may bite, but will generally also release a foul smelling musk, prompting a predator to release it. Though it doesn’t grow nearly as large as the rat snakes, it can still reach a respectable four feet in length when fully grown! Garter snakes are beneficial to people because they consume small rodents and insects that we deem as pests, but may also feed on fish, worms, frogs, eggs, leeches and even other snakes. The eastern garter snake is a very commonly seen resident of Virginia. They are a very arboreal species, commonly found in trees, barns and the occasional attic. They are generally black in color, though some, like the photo, may still retain some of their juvenile coloration (young rat snakes are grey with black splotches), and have a black and white “checkerboard” pattern on their belly. As their name suggests, they feed predominantly on rodents, drawing them closer to people where mice and rats are most active. While their sheer size makes them formidable, Eastern Rat Snakes are actually very docile, and will typically flee at the first chance when encountering people. More commonly known as the Black Rat Snake, this snake is Virginia’s longest native snake, capable of reaching up to 8 feet in length! It is one of the most commonly encountered snakes on the East Coast, and can regularly be found in close proximity to humans and their homes. Virginia is home to more than thirty species of snakes, but I’ve narrowed this post down to just a handful of species that are encountered most frequently around local homes and gardens. Today, I thought it’d be a good idea to briefly introduce a few snake species so that homeowners might better be able to identify the snakes that most commonly turn up in local yards. I recently posted an instructional guide on what to do if/when you find a snake in your yard. Identifying Common Snakes By Thomas Waser In Cold Blooded Creatures