This snake is not seen frequently because it spends most of its time underground.  They are known to live up to 7 years, hibernating in winter, often in crowded dens along with other snake species. In March or April the males emerge from hibernation to follow female pheromone trails, which they sense with their forked tongues.  Brown Snakes range from eastern Canada south to Florida, west to Texas and south through Mexico into Honduras.

Brown snakes feed largely on earthworms, snails and slugs but will also eat small salamanders, soft-bodied grubs and beetles. They have specialized teeth and jaws that allow them to pull snails out of their shells and eat them.  They are predated by large frogs and toads, larger snakes, American crows, blue jays, hawks, shrews, weasels and domestic cats.  When these snakes feel threatened they flatten their bodies to appear larger and place their bodies in an aggressive posture. They will also smear their attacker with a foul-smelling musk that they exude from their cloaca.  Females give live birth to 12-20 young in late July to early August.  No parental care is given to the young.