Sure Sign of Spring

One of the surest signs of spring is the reappearance of the little Red-bellied snakes (Storeria occipitomaculata). 

A small pencil-sized snake that emerges in late April.  This little fella was soaking-up the spring sunshine on the driveway.

click on snake to enlarge

This species comes in a variety of colors - Black, gray and brown.  They typically have 2-4 thin stripes on their back.

Their young are born alive.  It's a helpful snake that eats bugs and slugs.  It's also small enough to be eaten by other critters.