Storeria occipitomaculata
Silhouette: Alex Slavenko · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~70% in a week ~90%
Storeria occipitomaculata, commonly known as the redbelly snake or the red-bellied snake, is a species of harmless snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to North America (Canada and the United States).
Storeria occipitomaculata is a small woodland species that usually measures 4–10 in (10–25 cm) in total length (including tail). Its dorsal color ranges from orange to gray, black, or brown. It can be distinguished from other species by its bright red or orange underbelly. Many individuals have a light brown ring behind the head.
Storeria occipitomaculata prefers warmer habitats, and in the more northern limits of its range will inhabit abandoned ant mounds. These mounds absorb solar radiation and are insulated which allows for a longer active season. This species, with large eyes and a kinetic skull, is not able to burrow on its own effectively, and abandoned ant mounds allow it access to a warm retreat. Individuals of this species can be found under logs and leafy debris due to its secretive nature.
Storeria occipitomaculata bears live young by ovoviviparity. Studies of the redbelly snake... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Isle Royale National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 2 | Montreal | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Minneapolis [Saint Paul] | 🇺🇸 United States |
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Redbelly Snake sighting in Acadia National Park on a given day, based on 113 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 7 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 70%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April and October
In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Redbelly Snake in Acadia National Park on a given day, against under 5% in December to March, the lowest months.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Redbelly Snake sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 5 parks where we can rate Redbelly Snake sightings, Acadia National Park has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come Isle Royale National Park (United States, about 30%) and Shenandoah National Park (United States, about 20%).
Same family: Colubridae
The closest relatives of the Redbelly Snake that you can see in Acadia National Park (family Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes) are Common Garter Snake (about 50%), Eastern Milksnake (about 30%) and Ringneck Snake (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Redbelly Snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Acadia National Park (113 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
