Nova Scotia Snakes

It's taken me a lifetime to actually hold one of each type of snake.

Here's some great photos to show you our *harmless* snakes.

(I don't like Facebook or links back to it, but I saw one that I want to share.
Posted by Pete Freckelton with Jake Scott photography. Credit to each. )

"This is the Northern Redbelly
(Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata)
Adults reach about 1 foot in length. They don't bite, as their mouths & teeth are far to small too use defensively. Their main defence is displaying their red belly as a warning to predators that they may be toxic... but it's mostly a ruse, though some of their digesting prey may be toxic to a small animal that tries to eat it. They're shy, mostly nocturnal, very fast and quick to wriggle free when handled, but absolutely adorable. You'll most often find them in decomposing logs or other places slugs might shelter. In winter, they're particularly fond of denning in cracked foundations so they'll occasionally turn up in basements."

A small snake, one fold-over revealing an orange belly all the way to the tale. They are small enough to cup in your hands. The mouth is as small as your little finger tip
ALT

Replying to an earlier post

re: Nova Scotia Snakes

@Lstn2urmama My wife doesn't like any snakes, but two funny stories..
My son found the largest garter snake I've ever seen and wanted to keep it. My wife is afraid of snakes, but in an aquarium, safe behind screen, he was to keep it. Yadayada, *ROCKY* gave birth to 29 live ones, and then they escaped. That was a day for the record books. I got a call at work, the snakes were out.
Then, the next story, me driving the ATV with my wife on the back, but I see a snake, trying to swallow a frog. Very cool, I took some pictures and was going to leave,. and my wife said, no, you have to free the frog? No I am not? Mother nature. Snake is hungry, it's 50-50, one leg is still out.. and as much fear as she had, she used a stick to pry that snake off the frog and let it escape.

Jul 4, 2026, 15:00 UTCen