Carphophis amoenus amoenus
Copyright, John White
Eastern Worm Snakes are
small snakes, only growing up to 15 inches long. Their color
can vary from pinkish-brown to dark-brown. They closely
resemble earthworms, which is how they get their
name. This snake also has a
sharp tip on its tail, though it is not dangerous. The tip
is used to help the snake dig. Eastern Worm Snakes are
found where there is damp soil, especially in forests. They
also live in meadows and backyards. Worm snakes are mostly
active during crepuscular (evening and early morning) times
and at night. Copyright, Randy Emmitt,
www.rlephoto.com
Copyright, John White
Worm snakes are
burrowers
and spend most of their time in soil or under logs and
rocks. They also dig into rotten logs and stumps (especially
pines), and under dead leaves
and bark.
In times of very dry weather, these snakes dig deep into the
earth. Eastern Worm Snakes
breed
in Spring and Fall. After mating, female worm snakes lay 1
to 8 eggs
in a rotted log, or under a log or rock. Young snakes are
about 4 inches long when they hatch. They are full grown in
3 years. Worm snakes
hibernate
underground during Winter. Copyright, David
Blevins
Mark
Moran Copyright, J. D.
Willson Eastern Worm Snakes eat
more earthworms than anything else. Other foods include
slugs, snails, small salamanders, and soft-bodied
insect
larvae
(like grubs and caterpillars). Predators
of worm snakes include opossum, skunk, fox, Blue Jay, crows,
other large birds, larger snakes, toads, large salamanders,
and cats. Eastern Worm Snakes are
often found in soil where termites live because termites
provide soil that is easy to burrow in. Worm snakes and
other ground-burrowing animals help each other by loosening
soil and making it easier to dig.
