Food includes earthworms, slugs and, occasionally, insects. Statewide except for several northwestern counties. The midland brown snake is a close relative of the redbelly snake. The general color is graybrown to reddishbrown, with a white or yellowish belly. This species prefers a moist environment and can be found under logs, boards or rocks near marshes, swamps, moist woods and, sometimes, rocky hillsides.
Brown snakes eat earthworms, slugs and softbodied insects.
Statewide, but hybridizes with the Texas brown snake in the western part of Missouri. This long, slender snake is a variety of garter snake. Two wide, black stripes border a yellow or orange stripe down its back, and often there is a yellow or orange spot on its head. The belly is greenish. This species lives in wooded areas near water and may be seen along the banks ofStreams or the edge of ponds.