Pine Woods Littersnake
Rhadinaea flavilata
The Pine Woods Littersnake is a small, secretive, nonvenomous snake that lives beneath leaf litter and logs across much of Florida.
This slender snake uses damp pine woods, hardwood hammocks, and wooded residential edges. It spends most of its time hidden under bark, logs, leaves, or other surface cover.
Because it is tiny and harmless, encounters are brief and easy to manage by leaving it alone.
Habitat:
Forests and Woodlands, Pine Flatwoods and Sandhills, Urban and Residential Areas
Area / Range:
Statewide
Diet:
It eats small salamanders, frogs, lizards, and soft-bodied invertebrates.
Behavior:
It hides by day, forages in litter after dark or rain, and may flatten slightly or release musk when handled.
Night, Dusk
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Warm humid evenings or after rain along wooded paths and intact leaf litter.
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Not considered imperiled statewide. Local populations benefit from connected woodland, moisture, and undisturbed ground cover.
Safety Level:
Low Risk
Safety Information:
Nonvenomous and harmless. Give it space and allow it to move away; never kill a snake based on color alone.
Benefits to Property:
It helps balance small amphibians and other prey and supports larger woodland predators.
Property Concerns:
It does not damage structures or landscaping. Removing all leaf litter and logs reduces habitat.
Fun Fact:
The yellow lip line explains the species name flavilata, which refers to yellow coloring.
Wildlife Laws:
Native snakes are regulated wildlife. Collection or commercial possession may require authorization, and killing wildlife unlawfully is prohibited.
Identification:
Look for a narrow reddish-brown to golden-brown snake with a pale yellow or cream lip line, a dark line through the eye, smooth scales, and a plain pale belly.