Here’s a snake that lives in the Lake Martin area that you probably haven’t seen. That’s because the Smooth Earth Snake spends most of its days underground, and when it does come out, it’s usually after dark.

Smooth Earth Snakes have brown, red, gray or tan backs – sometimes flecked with black dots – and lighter colored bellies. These snakes are small, commonly 7 to 10 inches long, and they rarely grow to a foot in length. They have smooth scales and sleek appearance. The Smooth Earth Snake has a small, roundly-pointed head, which makes it easy for him to burrow. Its body is often described as stout for a snake of its size. If you are familiar with a Ring-necked Snake, the Smooth Earth Snake looks very similar in shape but with different coloring and no ring.