At a quick glance, this species may resemble a pale colored garter snake. They prefer areas with at least some open canopy for basking. Feed almost exclusively on newly molted crayfish, but may also eat frogs, tadpoles, newts, minnows, snails and fairy shrimp. Rarely found far from water. Near streams, in a communal hibernator.
Females mature in third year, males in second.
Breed spring and fall. Sedimentation affects both habitat quality and food availability. This species is known to communally hibernate in old bridge abutments, fractured dams, and in some deep rip-rap. Before any actions are taken to remove or repair these within known queen snake range, the Bureau of Endangered Resources should be contacted to arrange an onsite visit. Mitigation may be required where repairs are unavoidable.