Harmless · North Carolina
Red-bellied Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata
Tiny woodland snake with a reddish or orange belly.
At a glance
Size
Usually 8-14 inches.
North Carolina range
Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain
Habitat
moist woods, leaf litter
Diet
Slugs, snails, earthworms, and other small invertebrates.
Pattern
solid
Venomous
No
How to identify it
Tiny brown, gray, or black snake with a bright red or orange belly and often a pale neck collar.
Where to look in North Carolina
Found throughout North Carolina but encountered most often in moist wooded areas.
Moist forests, leaf litter, sphagnum, and areas beneath logs or rocks.
Regional maps show broad physiographic provinces, not county-level records.
Photo guide
Use the gallery to check pattern, body shape, and context—not just overall color.
