8 Black Snakes in South Dakota 

Written by Hannah Ward
Updated: November 26, 2022
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South Dakota is a large state in the North Central region of the United States. It is a vastly diverse state and has many different ecosystems in it. South Dakota makes up part of the Great Plains as well as the Badlands. It also has mountain ranges, rolling hills, and stunning river valleys. There are 17 species of snakes living in South Dakota, including one that is venomous – the prairie rattlesnake. If you’re out exploring the state then it’s a good idea to know which snakes you might see. So, join us as we learn about the black snakes in South Dakota!

1. Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi)

Bull Snake with Jaws Open

Bullsnakes often raise their head and bodies up off the ground while hissing and lunging.

©Markparker1983/Shutterstock.com

We’ll kick off the list with the longest snake in the state – the bullsnake. Bullsnakes are a subspecies of the gopher snake and are 36 to 72 inches long. They have yellow bodies covered with large black or dark brown blotches. Bullsnakes are abundant across the state’s western region (to the west of the Missouri River), where they can be found in grasslands and woodlands. Despite not being venomous, bullsnakes can be extremely aggressive if threatened. They often raise their head and bodies up off the ground while hissing and lunging. They also vibrate their tail in the leaf litter, which then mimics the sound of a rattlesnake.

2. Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor)

northern black racer

Northern black racers are 36 to 60 inches long and have black bodies with white chins.

©Breck P. Kent/Shutterstock.com

The next black snake in South Dakota is the northern black racer, a subspecies of the eastern racer. Northern black racers are 36 to 60 inches long and have black bodies with white chins. They mainly live in the western region of the state from the western bank of the Missouri River. As their name suggests, northern black racers are fast-moving snakes. They mainly live in grasslands and forests where their typical stance is to pause with their head raised above the ground as they look for prey. They have excellent eyesight, which they use to pick out small mammals, amphibians, and birds.

3. Western Fox Snake (Pantherophis ramspotti)

Snakes in Iowa - Western Fox Snake

Western

fox

snakes can reach lengths of up to 50 inches.

©James DeBoer/Shutterstock.com

The western fox snake is a species of special concern in South Dakota as it only occurs in the southeastern corner of the state. They live in a variety of habitats but most often occur in grasslands and on farmland, where they even enter into agricultural barns. Western fox snakes are large snakes – reaching 36 to 50 inches long – and are brown or gray with large dark brown to black blotches on their bodies. They can bite if threatened or handled, but are not particularly dangerous. Western fox snakes are actually quite beneficial snakes as they mainly prey on rodents which are pests on farms.

4. Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)

Snakes in Maine - Northern Water Snake / Lake Erie Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon insularum)

Although

northern water snakes

are not venomous, they are often mistaken for the venomous cottonmouth in areas where their range overlaps.

©Michiel de Wit/Shutterstock.com

Another black snake in South Dakota is the northern water snake, a thick, heavy-bodied snake 24 to 55 inches long. Northern water snakes have a dark brown to black ground color and darker blotches and crossband markings. They are highly aquatic and are most typically found in any wetland habitat. However, they are one of the rarest snakes in South Dakota and only occur near Springfield and in the Niobrara Delta along the Missouri River. Although northern water snakes are not venomous, they are the snake that is most often mistaken for the venomous cottonmouth in areas where their range overlaps. However, bites from these snakes tend to bleed a lot because they contain an anticoagulant in their saliva.

5. Plains Garter Snake (Thamnophis radix)

Plains

garter snakes

are diurnal snakes and are usually active between April and October

©fivespots/Shutterstock.com

The next snake on our list is the plains garter snake, one of the most common and widespread snakes in the state. Plains garter snakes live in virtually all habitats in South Dakota – including grasslands, prairies, wetlands, and even residential areas. They are diurnal snakes and are usually active between April and October, after which they move into burrows and rocky crevices to overwinter in. Plains garter snakes are 18 to 36 inches long and have long, slender bodies. They are often black but can be greenish-grey or brown and have orange or yellow stripes along their bodies. They also have vertical black markings on their lips.

6. Ring-Necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus)

Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus)

Ring-necked snakes are shy and secretive and live mainly in moist woodlands and grasslands with plenty of cover.

©Tucker Heptinstall/Shutterstock.com

The smallest black snake in South Dakota is the ring-necked snake which is only 10 to 20 inches long. Although they have black bodies, these snakes still have a unique appearance. As their name suggests, ring-necked snakes have a brightly colored neck ring of either orange, red, or yellow. They also sometimes have matching bellies. However, ring-necked snakes are shy and secretive and live mainly in moist woodlands and grasslands with plenty of cover. Ring-necked snakes are only found in the southeastern region of the state near the Missouri, Big Sioux, James, and Vermillion rivers. Although they are not dangerous to humans, these snakes are mildly venomous to their prey, mainly consisting of slugs and earthworms.

7. Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)

What Do Milk Snakes Eat - Campbell's Milk Snake

Milk snakes

are fairly secretive snakes which means they are not often seen.

©Seregraff/Shutterstock.com

Although they are not dangerous, milk snakes are often mistaken for the highly venomous coral snake – especially in states where they both occur. This is because they have a very similar appearance with their bright red, black, and yellow or white bands. However, the common rhyme “red on yellow kills a fellow, red on black a friend of Jack” is often used to remember which is the harmless snake. Milk snakes are usually 24 to 36 inches long and mainly live west of the Missouri River. Although they live in a variety of habitats across the US, they typically occur in grasslands and on rocky outcrops in South Dakota. However, they are fairly secretive snakes which means they are not often seen.

8. Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

Animals That Play Dead Eastern Hognose Snake

Eastern hognose snakes have black, brown, or grey bodies with black or dark brown blotches.

©iStock.com/JasonOndreicka

The final black snake in South Dakota is the threatened eastern hognose snake which only occurs on floodplains in Brule, Clay, Union, and Todd counties. These snakes are 20 to 33 inches long and have a noticeably upturned snout. Eastern hognose snakes have black, brown, or grey bodies with black or dark brown blotches. They can also sometimes be almost entirely black, which is known as the “black phase.” Eastern hognose snakes are not considered dangerous to humans, but they sometimes act like venomous snakes by spreading their necks and hissing when threatened. If that doesn’t deter their predator, then they just roll over and pretend to be dead.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © reptiles4all/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Hannah is a writer at A-Z animals where her primary focus is on reptiles, marine life, mammals, and geography. Hannah has been writing and researching animals for four years alongside running her family farm. A resident of the UK, Hannah loves riding horses and creating short stories.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources
  1. South Dakota Herps, Available here: https://www.sdherps.org/species/heterodon_platirhinos
  2. South Dakota Herps, Available here: https://www.sdherps.org/species/lampropeltis_triangulum
  3. South Dakota Herps, Available here: https://www.sdherps.org/species/thamnophis_radix
  4. South Dakota Herps, Available here: https://www.sdherps.org/species/diadophis_punctatus
  5. South Dakota Herps, Available here: https://www.sdherps.org/species/pituophis_catenifer
  6. South Dakota Herps, Available here: https://www.sdherps.org/species/coluber_constrictor
  7. South Dakota Herps, Available here: https://www.sdherps.org/species/nerodia_sipedon
  8. South Dakota Herps, Available here: https://www.sdherps.org/species/pantherophis_ramspotti