Green Snake - Western Smooth

Other Breeds

Keeshond   |   Palomino   |   Pig – Pot Bellied   |  

Alternative Name

Green Grass Snake Scientific Name: Opheodrys vernalis blanchardi

Basic Info

Western Smooth Green Snakes differ from their close cousins the Eastern Smooth Green Snakes in habitat but also in scale counts. Like the Eastern Smooth Green Snake, it is a bright grass green color, but has a white underside. Generally, the Western Smooth Green Snake grows to about a foot and half in length, and has a long, slender body with a "smiling" narrow-shaped mouth.

Health

Breeding The Western Smooth Green Snake lays its eggs in the middle to end of summer. The female Western Smooth Green Snake will lay up to nine eggs, which will hatch within a month.

Habitat

N/A

Behavior

The Western Smooth Green Snake, though once extremely common in the prairies and grasslands of North America, is fast disappearing, seemingly less able to adapt to the lawns and parks of cities than its cousin, the Eastern Smooth Green Snake. Living in grasses, the Western Smooth Green Snake is also known as the Green Grass Snake. During the winter, the Western Smooth Green Snake hibernates until the warmth of spring returns. In the summer, the female Western Smooth Green Snake will lay four to nine small, white eggs. Within about a month, just before or at the beginning of autumn, the eggs will hatch. These snakes are docile and shy, and if found in your garden will make useful pest control. It is important not to harm Western Smooth Green Snakes, however, as they are greatly affected by loss of their native prairies. These snakes generally do not bite. The Western Smooth Green Snake should not be kept, however, as he most likely will not eat if held in captivity.

Origin

North America

History

The Western Smooth Green Snake was listed as an endangered species in 1994. Mostly due to loss of habitat, the Western Smooth Green Snake is slowly disappearing. Previously living in the moister areas of Western, Northeastern, and occasionally Southwestern United States in addition to Southeastern Canada, the Western Smooth Green Snake is now found only with difficulty and its range has shrunk considerably.

Common Foods

Moving during the day, this slender little snake feeds on small bugs. Useful in pest control, grasshoppers are among its favorites. Other insects eaten by the Western Smooth Green Snake include spiders, earthworms and caterpillars though the list is by n