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A population of Dekay’s Brownsnake, Storeria dekayi was studied using mark-recapture techniques in Erie County, Pennsylvania, USA during the spring, summer and autumn of 2012. Morphometric data were similar to that reported for the species, with adult females averaging larger and more massive than adult males. However, sexual dimorphism in snout-vent length (SVL) and total length (TL) was not significantly different (P>0.05) in juveniles, although relative tail length (tl/TL) was dimorphic. Relative tail length in both juveniles and adults was greater in males (tl/TL = 0.22-0.27) than females (tl/TL = 0.18-0.23). Storeria dekayi were active from 21 March through 22 October, and displayed a bimodal activity pattern, with peaks in April and August. Using the Schnabel and the Schumacher-Eschmeyer methods, population size was estimated to be 122 ± 19 and 130 ± 35 individuals, respectively. Density was estimated to be 244 and 260 snakes/ha, and biomass 1.60 and 1.71 kg/ha. Additional data regarding population structure, mortality, diet, reproduction, body temperature, movements and site fidelity are also presented. BRIAN S. GRAY residential development caused the extirpation of two populations of S. dekayi in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Loss of suitable habitat for S. dekayi in Erie County, Pennsylvania was described in Gray (2006; 2009). Researchers have noted that basic life-history data are lacking for some common snake species (Willson and Dorcas 2004; Meshaka 2010), including S. dekayi (Ernst 2003; Gaul 2008). In Pennsylvania, the lack of information pertaining to the current status of most species, as well as lack of basic life history data, is recognized as challenges to conserving the commonwealth’s herpetofauna (Hulse et al. 2001; Maret 2010). Such gaps in our knowledge of population biology can limit the ability to develop effective conservation and management strategies (Dorcas and Willson 2009). For example, thorough knowledge of a species’ habitat use, population structure, and movement patterns are necessary for the establishment of adequate-sized reserves (Dodd 1987; Gregory et al. 1987; Shine and Bonnet 2009). Ernst (2003) provided a wealth of information regarding the ecology of ‘What was once a vacant lot where one could find snakes under sheets of rusty iron is now a parking lot or an apartment building.’ — William S. Burroughs, 1987

NATURAL HISTORY OF DEKAY’S BROWNSNAKE, STORERIA DEKAYI (HOLBROOK, 1836), AT A SITE IN NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA