Habitat: Often found on south to west-facing hillsides and bluffs in southeastern Minnesota, and under rocks, logs, or bark in damp deciduous forests in northern Minnesota. These snakes are quite secretive, spending much of their time under flat rocks and in crevices. They prefer areas with abundant ground cover. They overwinter in rock crevices or animal burrows that go below the frost line. (MN DNR, 2022)

Reproduction: Ringneck snakes mate in spring and sometimes in fall. The females lay an average of four eggs in early summer in a nest. The eggs hatch within eight weeks. Young are 4 to 6 inches long. At times, several females lay their eggs in one nest. (MN DNR, 2022)