The rough green snake has a long, slender, bright green body and a white, cream or yellow belly. (Richard Crook/Flickr)
The rough green snake is a non-venomous snake with a long, slender, bright green body. It lives in leafy trees and shrubs in thickly vegetated areas throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.
Appearance:
Long, slender, bright green body covered with rough-looking scales
White, cream or yellow belly
Grows 22-32 inches long
Habitat:
Lives in leafy trees, shrubs and vines, often near water
Prefers lush, thickly vegetated areas, including moist woods, streamside forests and backyard gardens
Unlike most snakes, rough green snakes are diurnal, meaning they are most active during the day
Hibernates during winter
Range:
Found throughout the Chesapeake Bay region’s coastal plain
May range farther inland
Feeding:
Feeds primarily on insects such as crickets, caterpillars and grasshoppers
Will also eat snails, spiders and small frogs
Uses its excellent vision to find and track down prey
Predators:
Birds, larger snakes and domestic cats all prey upon rough green snakes
Hides from predators within dense vegetation, where it is well camouflaged
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
Females lay 2-12 eggs in a tree hollow in June or July. Several females will often share a nest.
Eggs hatch in August and September, yielding baby snakes that are 7-8 inches long
Usually lives up to five years, but can live up to eight years
Other Facts:
Gets its name from the rough-looking scales that cover its green body
The only tree-dwelling snake in the Bay region
Rough green snakes are docile and do not bite
Although rough green snakes usually live in trees, they are also very good swimmers.
