Rough Green Snake

Opheodrys aestivus

The Rough Green Snake is a tree-climber. It favors vegetation along lakes and streams. Herpetologists locate these snakes at night using a headlamp. Although Rough Green Snakes are difficult to spot by day, at night their skin reflects the beam of light, and their bodies, coiled around branches, are easy to spot. These snakes eat insects and spiders.

Look For : A slender snake with a solid green back and plain yellow or pale green belly. Scales are keeled, making skin rough.

Length : 20-45".

Habitat : Lake edges, forests, old fields, thickets.

Range : Southeastern U.S., from New Jersey west to Kansas, south through central Texas.