Unique Qualities:

This slender snake varies from light to emerald green and averages 60 cm in length. Its belly is light yellow and it has smooth scales. Its colouring is perfect for camouflage in tall grasses—it also sways in the wind to keep hidden!

Can be Seen:

The smooth green snake is found in southeastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, southern Ontario and Quebec and the Maritimes. In the U.S., it is found in small pockets east of the Rockies.

Likes to Hang Out:

The snake likes to live in moist places. It can be found in bogs, wet fields and around the edges of marshes.

Likes to Eat:

The smooth green snake eats all kinds of insects, as well as spiders, centipedes, millipedes and snails.

Status:

Populations are currently healthy in Canada and the U.S. However, the smooth green snake likes to lie on warm roads at night, causing many to be killed by cars.

Did You Know?

Did you know that smooth green snakes turn blue when they die? They have yellow and blue pigments that combine in their skin to make them green. After they die, the yellow pigment quickly breaks down, leaving a blue snake!