WESTERN RIBBON SNAKE

Photo © by Suzanne L. Collins
Used by permission

• Size:   Length in Kansas up to 39 1/2 inches.

• Description:   Harmless. Scales keeled. A striped snake, with a yellow or orange stripe down center of back and two, yellowish-cream colored stripes on the sides. These light stripes are separated by two wide, black areas along the back. Head is dark with two small light spots on the top. Belly is cream colored or very pale green. Young patterned like adults.
• Habits:   Prefers to live near the edges of wetland habitats such as swamps, sloughs, marshes and oxbow lakes, but is also found along streams. Active March-October and breeds April-May. Gives live birth to an average of 12 young in August-September. Eats small frogs and fish.

  Other Kansas snakes with lengthwise stripes

  Brown Snake	Common Garter Snake
  Graham's Crayfish Snake	Plains Garter Snake
  Lined Snake	Western Worm Snake

  Click here for information on precautions against being bitten by snakes
  and what to do if you have been bitten by one.