For several reasons.

The description in my field guide says the young have a yellowish collar. This snake has no hint of a collar. The picture of the Brown Snake I have shows scales strongly keeled and the one I found had very lightly keeled scales. Also, Brown Snakes typically are found in wet areas and the one I found was a very long way from water.

The real kicker is the anal plate. My field guide says the Brown Snake anal plate is divided but the snake I found does not have a divided anal plate.

All that being said, the picture of the adult Brown Snake in my field guide is pretty close to the Snake I found. Only differences are the scales are less keeled on the one I found, the nose less flat (more pointed), and spots fade away at mid-length vs near the tail on the Brown Snake.

I would post a picture but have no site to host pictures.

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