Ringneck Snakes

My wife found a few ringneck snakes underneath a rock in our backyard.  According to my amphibians and reptiles field guide, ringneck snakes discharge musk and thrash about when captured, but rarely bite.  We did not handle the snakes.

Ringneck snakes

Ringneck Snake Image 2

This second image is a closeup showing the head and ring of the ringneck snake.

Ringneck Snake Head

Ringneck Snake

I spotted this ringneck snake during a recent hike on the Cedar Run Trail in Shenandoah National Park.  I did not include any objects in the frame for a size reference, but the ringneck snake is a small snake typically less than 20 inches long.

Ringneck Snake