The number of eggs or young produced by Pennsylvania snakes varies depending on the species. Northern ringneck and worm snakes typically produce litters of one to six young, and eastern hognose, eastern garter and northern brown snakes can produce litters of three dozen to four dozen young. Juvenile snakes are prey for predatory birds, some mammals, and even other snakes. Growth Snakes, like most animals, grow rapidly early in life. Their bodies enlarge until the skin must be shed for growth to continue.
Young snakes can shed four or more times per year during their first two years of life.
As adults they may shed only once or twice per year. Snakes that are about to shed typically display a cloudy or bluish appearance to their eyes, caused by the old skin and the lymph fluid secreted beneath it in preparation for shedding. The first rattle segment in newborn rattlesnakes is called a button. Each time a rattlesnake sheds, a new rattle segment is added at the base of the tail. Each shedding carries the button farther from the tail base.