It was in the high 60s today; apparently warm enough for some snakes. I found a very small snake in my yard that I cannot identify. Description and location below.

Simpsonville, SC (Greenville county).
Found while working in an area covered with pine bark mulch.
Area is relatively dry (by SC standards) and not near water.

Snake
Top is brownish gray with dark brown spots. Spots are prevalent at the head and first third of the length but fade away about half way down. The snake has a slight sheen in sunlight both on top and its underbelly. Underbelly is uniformly offwhite. Single scale at vent. Scales appear slightly keeled but the snake is so small that it is difficult to be sure. The snake is 7"-8" long and slightly less than 1/4" diameter at it widest point. The shape of the head and the eyes remind me of a common gray ratsnake but the colors don't seem consistent with a ratsnake.

It has not tried to bite when handled but did flip musk and uric acid around.

I've looked in my NA Field Guide and cannot ID this one from the book. Any help you could provide would be appreciated. What to feed such a small snake would also be helpful.

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• Trying to ID a Snake I Found Today - custom2011, Sat Jan 3 18:13:45 2004
• sounds like a Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi) - chrish, Sat Jan 3 20:59:01 2004
• Or a juvinile black racer. - NWFLHerper, Sat Jan 3 22:18:34 2004
• Thanks But That's Not It - custom2011, Sun Jan 4 06:36:55 2004
• I Don't Think It's a Brown Snake - custom2011, Sun Jan 4 06:51:51 2004
• RE: Photo hosting here - jfmoore, Sun Jan 4 09:20:25 2004
• RE: Trying to ID a Snake I Found Today - Pic Posted (I Hope) - custom2011, Sun Jan 4 11:55:43 2004
• Trying to Post Picture Again - custom2011, Sun Jan 4 11:58:18 2004
• I think Chris was right - NWFLHerper, Sun Jan 4 12:06:31 2004
• Definitely a Brownsnake. /np - chrish, Mon Jan 5 00:25:27 2004
• Here is Another Picture - Any Ideas on What I Have - custom2011, Sun Jan 4 12:00:44 2004
• RE: Here is Another Picture - Any Ideas on What I Have - crazycracker28, Sun Jan 4 13:10:29 2004
• RE: Here is Another Picture - Any Ideas on What I Have - custom2011, Sun Jan 4 16:21:17 2004
• RE: Here is Another Picture - Any Ideas on What I Have - G8tor, Sun Jan 4 16:22:50 2004
• RE: Here is Another Picture - Any Ideas on What I Have - paalexan, Sun Jan 4 22:12:05 2004
• Storeria dekayi, but an odd one - CamHanna, Mon Jan 5 11:22:06 2004
• Storeria It Is!! But Definitely Odd - custom2011, Mon Jan 5 17:32:11 2004