Description: Scales are keeled, divided anal plate. Distinctive characteristic is the bright red, salmon or orange-colored belly. The dorsal color can range from solid reddish brown to black with a light mid-dorsal stripde and two narrow darker stripes on each side. (MN DNR, 2022)
Food: Primarily slugs, but also earthworms, beetle larva, and snails. (MN DNR, 2022)
Habitat: Prefer moist woodland habitats, but can be found in adjacent fields or wet areas. They overwinter below the frost line, often with other snake species, in abandoned ant mounds, rock crevices, and stone foundations. (MN DNR, 2022)
Reproduction: Livebearer, litter size is 1-23 young, with average litter of eight. (MN DNR, 2022)
Conservation Status: Northern red-bellied snakes have no special status in Minnesota. (MN DNR, 2022)
