Snake Population by State 2023

Alaska

Alaska is one of the two states that do not have any snakes. Snakes thrive in environments that are rocky and hilly and have some soil and heat. Alaska is devoid of places that are conducive for any snake species to survive. Although some states do not have native species of snake, they have been introduced into very small, contained environments. The state of Alaska does not have any area that will effectively grow any snakes. Even if a conservatory were to be opened in the state for some habitat or endangered species to be rehabilitated, it would cost the state too much to transform the location into a snake sanctuary. Even so, the species may not survive due to a lack of prey in the habitat.

This does not mean that Alaska is too cold for any life. Alaska contains some of the most impressive species of wildlife, plant life, and geographic marvels in the nation. For example, some of the fish and large mammals in the state are extremely large and make for great game and breeding purposes. The tough winter climate and lack of vegetation have made species hardier in order to endure extremely difficult conditions.

Hawaii

Hawaii is the second state that does not have snakes native to the environment, but there have been very few species introduced into the environment to enrich the biodiversity in the area. Most of the time, isolated land masses or those with extreme temperatures are not appropriate for snake species to survive. This does not mean that all island nations or states are devoid of any snake species, as many regions in the Pacific have an abundance of different species, including those that are venomous.

It is hard to appropriately describe exactly what a state with "no" snakes means. For example, Alaska is the only state that can truly be considered one without any snake species on its soils that are recorded. Up until very recently, this also included Hawaii - which is still number two on many lists. Another metric that can be used is whether there are any states with native snake species. If this is to be used, Maine could also be considered a state with "no" snakes, as there aren't any species that are native there. With this being said, snake species often migrate or cohabit in certain areas, or are introduced by humans to enrich diversity or to preserve endangered species.

Texas

Texas, largely due to its climate and land mass, contains some of the most diverse ecosystems of serpents in America, and even the world. Of course, there are certain species of snake that prefer woodland areas, or even the large dense tropical jungles, but iconic species such as the rattlesnake have their home in Texas and many states that border it. There are over 65 species that are native and non-native to the area, as ecologists and zoologists often introduce other serpents to further diversify the gene pool or to save species altogether.

State	Snake Species	Notes
Texas	68	Texas has a huge, diverse snake population that includes 68 different species—and which may swell to more than 100 if one includes sub-species. The vast majority of snakes in Texas are harmless and include the Texas indigo and eastern hognose snakes. The state’s most venomous species is the Texas coral snake.
Arizona	52	13 are rattlesnake species. More than 1/3 of the world’s rattlesnake species are believed to live in Arizona.
Nevada	52	Snake species found in Nevada include venomous rattlers, cottonmouths, and copperheads, as well as many non-venomous species like the beautiful Arizona Mountain and the California Lyre. The coachwhip, desert glossy, and desert night snake are among Nevada's native species.
Louisiana	48	Louisiana’s swamps and bayous provide ideal hunting and hiding grounds for its 48 species of snake. The state has the wet, warm weather they thrive in. You are most likely to see the ring-necked, scarlet king, pine, and Mississippi green water species.
Missouri	47	The U.S. has more than 50 snake species, and 47 of them live in Missouri. Here, you’ll find eastern yellow-bellied racers, northern scarlets, prairie ringnecks, and western worms. There are several subspecies of the hognose including the plains and eastern versions. You’ll also find a few venomous species like the western cottonmouth and the massasauga.
Florida	46	Florida has more species of snake than any other state on the east coast. Its native snakes include the Florida brown snake and the ring-necked snake.
Georgia	46	Snakes inhabit the whole of Georgia. Species include brown water, queen, common garter, and ring-necked snakes.
New Mexico	46	New Mexico has eight venomous snakes and a large number of non-venomous ones. Its unique native species include the Sonoran coral, New Mexico blind, Chihuahuan night, and plains black-headed snakes.
Oklahoma	46	Oklahoma is another state with a high number of snake species, seven of which are venomous.
Alabama	43	Alabama has 43 species of snake, including six venomous species: the copperhead, cottonmouth, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, pigmy/pygmy rattlesnake, and eastern coral snake.
Arkansas	39	Only six of the 39 species of snake living in Arkansas are venomous. The most common native snakes are the eastern hognose and the black rat.
Kansas	38	They are mostly harmless ring-necked, hognose, rat, and garter varieties.
South Carolina	38	Black racers, rough greens, non-venomous water snakes, and eastern diamondback rattlers are just a few of the many snake species presnt in South Carolina.
North Carolina	37	Gentle green, colorful milk species, racers, and corn snakes are among the state’s most common species. North Carolina has venomous species of snake, including the pygmy rattler and eastern diamondback.
Kentucky	34	Kirtland’s, ribbon, northern water, and pine are all species that call Kentucky home.
California	33	Many species are endemic to the state. It has six venomous snakes. One native, the saw-scaled viper, may be responsible for more deaths than all other snake species combined.
Indiana	32	They include the eastern hog-nosed, gray rat, and common garter. It is also home to two rattlesnake species.
Tennessee	32	Red corn, gray rat, and red-bellied mud snakes are among Tennessee’s native snake species.
Colorado	30	Only three of Colorado's 30 species of snake are venomous, and all three are rattlesnakes.
Nebraska	30	The eastern glossy, speckled king, smooth green, western fox, Graham’s crayfish, and coachwhip are just a few of the snake species found in Nebraska. Four venomous species of snake live in Nebraska, including a copperhead and three pit viper species.
Illinois	29	Snake species inhabiting Illinois include the eastern hog-nosed, gray rat, and common garter snakes. Illinois is also home to two rattlesnake species.
Ohio	28	Most of Ohio's snakes are common and harmless, including the queen and smooth earth.
Iowa	27	Iowa's many snake species include the diamondback water, western ribbon, common garter, and North American racer snake.
New Jersey	23	The Garden State of New Jersey has 23 species. They include the northern copperhead, eastern worm, and eastern hognose. New Jersey only has two venomous species.
West Virginia	23	West Virginia has many species of snake, which range in size from 6 inches to more than 6 feet, and only two species are venomous. State wildlife officials have pointed out that bees, cows, and horses have caused 15 times as many deaths as snakes in the state.
Pennsylvania	21	Pennsylvania’s woodlands are home to many species of snake, but it’s rare to encounter them. The state is also home to three species of water snake.
Wisconsin	21	Wisonsin is home to 21 species of snake, 14 of which are classified as rare, threatened, or endangered. These include the western ribbon, North American blue racer, gray rat, and Butler’s garter snake.
Delaware	19	All 19 of Delaware's snake species live in the region known as Delmarva, which borders the shores of Maryland and Virginia. These snakes are mostly milk and king varieties.
Michigan	18	Eastern garter, Butler’s garter, northern ribbon, and western fox snakes are some of the species that call this Great Lakes state home. The state’s 18 species include only one, the eastern massasauga, which is venomous.
Minnesota	17	Most of the native snake species in Minnesota are harmless garden visitors. Among these are the plains hognose, northern water, gopher, garter, and smooth green snakes. The state’s only two venomous species—the eastern massasauga and the timber rattler—are mostly found in the densely forested southeastern part of the state.
New York	17	The garter, milk, and water snakes are the types you’re most likely to see in most parts of the state. New York's poisonous species mostly live in the less populated areas and nature reserves.
South Dakota	17	South Dakota is home to many reptile species, including 17 different snake species. However, only one species of venomous snake, the prairie rattlesnake, lives in South Dakota.
Utah	17	Utah is home to several rattlesnake species as well as several non-venomous species of snake.
Maryland	15	With mountains and coastline, Maryland has a good number of native species. They include common water, plain-bellied water, queen, and smooth earth. One of the state’s most attractive snakes is the small, reddish-brown mountain earth snake.
Oregon	15	Oregon is home to the rubber boa, sharptail, and California mountain king snakes.
Connecticut	14	Only two of the 14 species of snake in Connecticut are venomous. Connecticut's common species include the eastern milk snake and the northern redbelly.
Massachusetts	14	Massachusetts' snake species are mostly non-venomous. The largest is the black rat snake, which can grow more than 8 feet long. It is both harmless and listed as endangered in the state. DeKay’s brown is a shy snake that occasionally visits gardens to eat slugs.
Virginia	14	Virginia is home to harmless northern pine, red-bellied, and garter snakes, as well as venomous copperheads, cottonmouths, and rattlesnakes.
Wyoming	13	Wyoming has 10 non-venomous species of snake, which include milk and smooth green snakes.
Idaho	12	The Gem State is home to 12 species of snake, including the commonly seen garter, gopher, and North American racer snakes.
Rhode Island	12	There are no venomous species of snake in Rhode Island, so any snake a person encounters is likely to be harmless.
Washington	12	WAshington's many harmless snakes include the western terrestrial garter, gopher, black racer, and striped whipsnake. As in many states, wildlife officials have spent time educating people about the many ways snakes help the environment.
New Hampshire	11	New Hampshire has 11 species of snake, of which five are listed as species in greatest need of conservation. They are the timber rattler, eastern hognose, northern black racer, smooth green, and ribbon snakes. Killing snakes is illegal in New Hampshire.
Vermont	11	The largely rural state of Vermont is home to several species of snake. The timber rattlesnake, the state’s only venomous species, is considered critically endangered in the state.
Mississippi	10	Mississippi’s warm waters are home to many species, including several venomous ones like the copperhead, eastern coral, and rattlesnake. Despite this, the majority of MIssissippi's snake species are harmless and include the common garter, eastern milk, and black racer.
Montana	10	The chances of encountering a deadly snake in Montana are low. The state has only one venomous species: the prairie rattlesnake, which is typically seen in the open countryside, but which occasionally visits forests. All other species of snake that live in Montana are harmless.
Maine	9	The state has no venomous species. It is home to eastern ribbons, western ribbons, eastern garters, and common garters.
North Dakota	8	North Dakota's snake species include one venomous species, which is the prairie rattlesnake.
Hawaii	2	Hawaii has no native snakes, and the state has gone to great lengths to prevent the introduction of non-native species that could destroy its environment. The only snake living on land in Hawaii is the Brahminy blind snake, the smallest snake on earth, which is 6 inches long and pink in color. Fortunately, this tiny invader poses no threat to Hawaii’s ecology or humans. Hawaii’s other snake is the yellow-bellied sea snake, which lives in the ocean surrounding the Hawaiian islands.

State

Snake Species

Notes

Texas

Texas has a huge, diverse snake population that includes 68 different species—and which may swell to more than 100 if one includes sub-species. The vast majority of snakes in Texas are harmless and include the Texas indigo and eastern hognose snakes. The state’s most venomous species is the Texas coral snake.

Arizona

13 are rattlesnake species. More than 1/3 of the world’s rattlesnake species are believed to live in Arizona.

Nevada

Snake species found in Nevada include venomous rattlers, cottonmouths, and copperheads, as well as many non-venomous species like the beautiful Arizona Mountain and the California Lyre. The coachwhip, desert glossy, and desert night snake are among Nevada's native species.

Louisiana

Louisiana’s swamps and bayous provide ideal hunting and hiding grounds for its 48 species of snake. The state has the wet, warm weather they thrive in. You are most likely to see the ring-necked, scarlet king, pine, and Mississippi green water species.

Missouri

The U.S. has more than 50 snake species, and 47 of them live in Missouri. Here, you’ll find eastern yellow-bellied racers, northern scarlets, prairie ringnecks, and western worms. There are several subspecies of the hognose including the plains and eastern versions. You’ll also find a few venomous species like the western cottonmouth and the massasauga.

Florida

Florida has more species of snake than any other state on the east coast. Its native snakes include the Florida brown snake and the ring-necked snake.

Georgia

Snakes inhabit the whole of Georgia. Species include brown water, queen, common garter, and ring-necked snakes.

New Mexico

New Mexico has eight venomous snakes and a large number of non-venomous ones. Its unique native species include the Sonoran coral, New Mexico blind, Chihuahuan night, and plains black-headed snakes.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is another state with a high number of snake species, seven of which are venomous.

Alabama

Alabama has 43 species of snake, including six venomous species: the copperhead, cottonmouth, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, pigmy/pygmy rattlesnake, and eastern coral snake.

Arkansas

Only six of the 39 species of snake living in Arkansas are venomous. The most common native snakes are the eastern hognose and the black rat.

Kansas

They are mostly harmless ring-necked, hognose, rat, and garter varieties.

South Carolina

Black racers, rough greens, non-venomous water snakes, and eastern diamondback rattlers are just a few of the many snake species presnt in South Carolina.

North Carolina

Gentle green, colorful milk species, racers, and corn snakes are among the state’s most common species. North Carolina has venomous species of snake, including the pygmy rattler and eastern diamondback.

Kentucky

Kirtland’s, ribbon, northern water, and pine are all species that call Kentucky home.

California

Many species are endemic to the state. It has six venomous snakes. One native, the saw-scaled viper, may be responsible for more deaths than all other snake species combined.

Indiana

They include the eastern hog-nosed, gray rat, and common garter. It is also home to two rattlesnake species.

Tennessee

Red corn, gray rat, and red-bellied mud snakes are among Tennessee’s native snake species.

Colorado

Only three of Colorado's 30 species of snake are venomous, and all three are rattlesnakes.

Nebraska

The eastern glossy, speckled king, smooth green, western fox, Graham’s crayfish, and coachwhip are just a few of the snake species found in Nebraska. Four venomous species of snake live in Nebraska, including a copperhead and three pit viper species.

Illinois

Snake species inhabiting Illinois include the eastern hog-nosed, gray rat, and common garter snakes. Illinois is also home to two rattlesnake species.

Ohio

Most of Ohio's snakes are common and harmless, including the queen and smooth earth.

Iowa

Iowa's many snake species include the diamondback water, western ribbon, common garter, and North American racer snake.

New Jersey

The Garden State of New Jersey has 23 species. They include the northern copperhead, eastern worm, and eastern hognose. New Jersey only has two venomous species.

West Virginia

West Virginia has many species of snake, which range in size from 6 inches to more than 6 feet, and only two species are venomous. State wildlife officials have pointed out that bees, cows, and horses have caused 15 times as many deaths as snakes in the state.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s woodlands are home to many species of snake, but it’s rare to encounter them. The state is also home to three species of water snake.

Wisconsin

Wisonsin is home to 21 species of snake, 14 of which are classified as rare, threatened, or endangered. These include the western ribbon, North American blue racer, gray rat, and Butler’s garter snake.

Delaware

All 19 of Delaware's snake species live in the region known as Delmarva, which borders the shores of Maryland and Virginia. These snakes are mostly milk and king varieties.

Michigan

Eastern garter, Butler’s garter, northern ribbon, and western fox snakes are some of the species that call this Great Lakes state home. The state’s 18 species include only one, the eastern massasauga, which is venomous.

Minnesota

Most of the native snake species in Minnesota are harmless garden visitors. Among these are the plains hognose, northern water, gopher, garter, and smooth green snakes. The state’s only two venomous species—the eastern massasauga and the timber rattler—are mostly found in the densely forested southeastern part of the state.

New York

The garter, milk, and water snakes are the types you’re most likely to see in most parts of the state. New York's poisonous species mostly live in the less populated areas and nature reserves.

South Dakota

South Dakota is home to many reptile species, including 17 different snake species. However, only one species of venomous snake, the prairie rattlesnake, lives in South Dakota.

Utah

Utah is home to several rattlesnake species as well as several non-venomous species of snake.

Maryland

With mountains and coastline, Maryland has a good number of native species. They include common water, plain-bellied water, queen, and smooth earth. One of the state’s most attractive snakes is the small, reddish-brown mountain earth snake.

Oregon

Oregon is home to the rubber boa, sharptail, and California mountain king snakes.

Connecticut

Only two of the 14 species of snake in Connecticut are venomous. Connecticut's common species include the eastern milk snake and the northern redbelly.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts' snake species are mostly non-venomous. The largest is the black rat snake, which can grow more than 8 feet long. It is both harmless and listed as endangered in the state. DeKay’s brown is a shy snake that occasionally visits gardens to eat slugs.

Virginia

Virginia is home to harmless northern pine, red-bellied, and garter snakes, as well as venomous copperheads, cottonmouths, and rattlesnakes.

Wyoming

Wyoming has 10 non-venomous species of snake, which include milk and smooth green snakes.

Idaho

The Gem State is home to 12 species of snake, including the commonly seen garter, gopher, and North American racer snakes.

Rhode Island

There are no venomous species of snake in Rhode Island, so any snake a person encounters is likely to be harmless.

Washington

WAshington's many harmless snakes include the western terrestrial garter, gopher, black racer, and striped whipsnake. As in many states, wildlife officials have spent time educating people about the many ways snakes help the environment.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire has 11 species of snake, of which five are listed as species in greatest need of conservation. They are the timber rattler, eastern hognose, northern black racer, smooth green, and ribbon snakes. Killing snakes is illegal in New Hampshire.

Vermont

The largely rural state of Vermont is home to several species of snake. The timber rattlesnake, the state’s only venomous species, is considered critically endangered in the state.

Mississippi

Mississippi’s warm waters are home to many species, including several venomous ones like the copperhead, eastern coral, and rattlesnake. Despite this, the majority of MIssissippi's snake species are harmless and include the common garter, eastern milk, and black racer.

Montana

The chances of encountering a deadly snake in Montana are low. The state has only one venomous species: the prairie rattlesnake, which is typically seen in the open countryside, but which occasionally visits forests. All other species of snake that live in Montana are harmless.

Maine

The state has no venomous species. It is home to eastern ribbons, western ribbons, eastern garters, and common garters.

North Dakota

North Dakota's snake species include one venomous species, which is the prairie rattlesnake.

Hawaii

Hawaii has no native snakes, and the state has gone to great lengths to prevent the introduction of non-native species that could destroy its environment. The only snake living on land in Hawaii is the Brahminy blind snake, the smallest snake on earth, which is 6 inches long and pink in color. Fortunately, this tiny invader poses no threat to Hawaii’s ecology or humans. Hawaii’s other snake is the yellow-bellied sea snake, which lives in the ocean surrounding the Hawaiian islands.