An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/3/2015).

View Record Details Photo by Richard Orr MBP List

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/12/2015). First record for Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), found by a grounds crew in a pile of leaf litter.

View Record Details Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC MBP List

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/25/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Justin Lee MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 343190 - Psn: 22)

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Justin Lee via iNaturalist MBP List

A Smooth Earthsnake at Battle Creek Cypress Swamp, Calvert Co., Maryland (4/5/2008).

Photo by Sarel Cousins MBP List

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Calvert Co., Maryland (10/17/2016).

View Record Details Photo by Justin Lee MBP List

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/4/2013).

Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/29/2022). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 621740 - Psn: 45)

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/29/2022). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Tom Feild MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Caroline Co., Maryland (4/15/2011). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 853056 - Psn: 45)

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Caroline Co., Maryland (4/15/2011). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Hans Holbrook MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (11/5/2023). (c) spiderqueen104, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 918019 - Psn: 45)

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (11/5/2023). (c) spiderqueen104, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by spiderqueen104 via iNaturalist MBP List

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Howard Co., Maryland (4/28/2011).

View Record Details Photo by Sue Muller MBP List

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Calvert Co., Maryland (10/17/2016).

View Record Details Photo by Justin Lee MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Justin Lee via iNaturalist MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/30/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 370284 - Psn: 55)

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/30/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Caroline Co., Maryland (4/15/2011). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Hans Holbrook MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/30/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/30/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist MBP List

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/14/2012).

View Record Details Photo by Keith Eric Costley MBP List

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/2/2015).

View Record Details Photo by Justin Lee MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Frederick Co., Maryland (3/31/2024). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 989364 - Psn: 65)

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Frederick Co., Maryland (3/31/2024). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Frode Jacobsen MBP List

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/14/2012).

View Record Details Photo by Keith Eric Costley MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/6/2022). (c) arapp5, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 622152 - Psn: 66)

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/6/2022). (c) arapp5, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by arapp5 via iNaturalist MBP List

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/3/2015).

View Record Details Photo by Richard Orr MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/29/2023). (c) daffodil7447, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 769657 - Psn: 75)

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/29/2023). (c) daffodil7447, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by daffodil7447 via iNaturalist MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Howard Co., Maryland (9/11/2020). (c) biconroy, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 370254 - Psn: 76)

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Howard Co., Maryland (9/11/2020). (c) biconroy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by biconroy via iNaturalist MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Charles Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 343202 - Psn: 78)

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Charles Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Justin Lee via iNaturalist MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Aleta Quinn, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 370271 - Psn: 78)

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Aleta Quinn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Aleta Quinn via iNaturalist MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Charles Co., Maryland (7/25/2021). (c) geckobrah, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 471045 - Psn: 78)

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Charles Co., Maryland (7/25/2021). (c) geckobrah, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by geckobrah via iNaturalist MBP List

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/1/2019).

View Record Details Photo by Ben Springer MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Charles Co., Maryland (7/25/2021). (c) geckobrah, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by geckobrah via iNaturalist MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/2/2022). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 617137 - Psn: 88)

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/2/2022). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Tom Feild MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/6/2022). (c) arapp5, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by arapp5 via iNaturalist MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/21/2022). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 752557 - Psn: 88)

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/21/2022). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Frode Jacobsen MBP List

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/2/2022). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Tom Feild MBP List

Map Snapshot

160 Records

GA AL WA FR CL MO HO BA BC HA CE PG AA CV CH SM KE QA CN TA DO WI SO WO

Status

Eastern Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia valeriae valeriae) is a tiny, inconspicuous, grayish-brown snake, generally rarely-encountered by humans. This snake is largely fossorial (active underground) or found beneath cover objects, and only likely to be observed above ground after heavy rains. Earth snakes feed primarily on earthworms, and are harmless to people (Tennant, 2003). This is the more widespread subspecies of V. valeriae, found across most of Maryland, except western Garrett Co., where it is replaced by V. valeriae pulchra, the enigmatic Mountain Earth Snake (Maryland DNR site).

Seasonality Snapshot

Resources

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Use of media featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/3/2015). View Record Details Media by Richard Orr.

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/12/2015). First record for Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), found by a grounds crew in a pile of leaf litter. View Record Details Media by Robert Aguilar, SERC.

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/25/2017). View Record Details Media by Justin Lee.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Justin Lee via iNaturalist.

A Smooth Earthsnake at Battle Creek Cypress Swamp, Calvert Co., Maryland (4/5/2008). Media by Sarel Cousins.

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Calvert Co., Maryland (10/17/2016). View Record Details Media by Justin Lee.

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/4/2013). Media by Robert Aguilar, SERC.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/29/2022). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Tom Feild.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Caroline Co., Maryland (4/15/2011). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Hans Holbrook.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (11/5/2023). (c) spiderqueen104, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by spiderqueen104 via iNaturalist.

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Howard Co., Maryland (4/28/2011). View Record Details Media by Sue Muller.

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Calvert Co., Maryland (10/17/2016). View Record Details Media by Justin Lee.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Justin Lee via iNaturalist.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/30/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Caroline Co., Maryland (4/15/2011). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Hans Holbrook.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/30/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist.

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/14/2012). View Record Details Media by Keith Eric Costley.

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/2/2015). View Record Details Media by Justin Lee.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Frederick Co., Maryland (3/31/2024). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Frode Jacobsen.

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/14/2012). View Record Details Media by Keith Eric Costley.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/6/2022). (c) arapp5, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by arapp5 via iNaturalist.

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/3/2015). View Record Details Media by Richard Orr.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/29/2023). (c) daffodil7447, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by daffodil7447 via iNaturalist.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Howard Co., Maryland (9/11/2020). (c) biconroy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by biconroy via iNaturalist.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Charles Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Justin Lee via iNaturalist.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Aleta Quinn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Aleta Quinn via iNaturalist.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Charles Co., Maryland (7/25/2021). (c) geckobrah, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by geckobrah via iNaturalist.

An Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/1/2019). View Record Details Media by Ben Springer.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Charles Co., Maryland (7/25/2021). (c) geckobrah, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by geckobrah via iNaturalist.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/2/2022). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Tom Feild.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/6/2022). (c) arapp5, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by arapp5 via iNaturalist.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/21/2022). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Frode Jacobsen.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/2/2022). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Tom Feild.