Quick Take
- One of North Carolina's black snakes is actually venomous, and it gets darker and more dangerous-looking as it ages. Meet the venomous cottonmouth →
- The black snake you're most likely to spot in your backyard isn't what most people fear, and it's actually beneficial to have around. Discover your backyard snake →
- One species on this list is small enough to fit in your palm, yet it still carries venom even though that venom is not meant for you. See the tiny venomous species →
- A rattlesnake that looks almost entirely black? In North Carolina, that's not a myth. It only happens, however, in one specific region. See the black rattlesnake →
There are more than 4,000 species of snakes worldwide, of which around 150 species are native to North America and approximately 50 species are native to the United States. In North Carolina, there are more than 30 recorded species of snakes. Although some of North Carolina’s native snakes, such as rainbow snakes (Farancia erytrogramma) and corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus), are brightly colored, the state also has its share of black snakes. Continue reading to learn about six of them.
Eastern Rat Snake
Eastern rat snakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) are also called chicken snakes, black rat snakes, pilot snakes, and pilot black snakes. If you spot a black snake in North Carolina, it’s likely a black rat snake. It’s the most common snake in the state, and it often lives near humans.
Up to eight feet long, rat snakes are among the longest snakes found in North Carolina. In some parts of the state, they’re greener than black, and some have striped markings. They may also have checkerboard patterning on their bellies.
Black rat snakes may look imposing, but they are harmless and benefit the environment.
©Karel Bock/Shutterstock.com
Eastern rat snakes consume rodents, other small mammals, birds (including chickens), and bird eggs. They’re arboreal and spend a large portion of their day in trees.
Cottonmouth
Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) grow up to four feet long and are highly venomous. While most cottonmouths are dark brown, they tend to get darker with age, with some older cottonmouths appearing to be solid black. They’re known as cottonmouths because the interior of their mouths is white.
Also known as water moccasins, cottonmouths are almost always in or near a permanent water source. Cottonmouths are the only venomous water snake in the United States.
Although most cottonmouths are dark brown, older individuals can be black, as these snakes darken with age.
©Jean Blom/Shutterstock.com
On average, cottonmouths weigh well under two pounds, though large specimens can reach up to around ten pounds despite their size.
Cottonmouths consume salamanders, rodents, chickens, turtles, birds, and other prey they come across in their environment.
Northern Black Racer
Also called North American racers, Northern black racers (Coluber constrictor constrictor) are all black except for their light grey bellies. Black racers usually top out at about five feet. They are slender and elongated, resembling a garden hose in shape.
Some Northern black racers have distinctive white chins.
©Breck P. Kent/Shutterstock.com
Black racers are nonvenomous. Though more likely to flee, they may lash out and bite if cornered. Racers are swift and travel at four to six miles per hour. They eat birds, eggs, lizards, and rodents.
Black Swamp Snake
Also known as Carolina swamp snakes, black swamp snakes (Liodytes pygaea) are small and don’t grow more than a foot and a half in length. They are found in marshes and swamps. Their red or orange belly contrasts sharply with their black back.
Black swamp snakes are distributed near North Carolina’s coastline, hiding in aquatic vegetation in shallow water.
Black swamp snakes consume leeches, tadpoles, frogs, and small fish both during the day and at night.
Timber Rattlesnake
Like all rattlesnakes, the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is venomous, making it one of the most dangerous snakes in North Carolina.
The number of timber rattlesnakes in North Carolina is shrinking due to habitat fragmentation.
©Mark F Lotterhand/Shutterstock.com
In North Carolina, timber rattlesnakes can be almost completely black, a color morph known as a dark phase or a black phase. This is most frequently seen in the mountain populations of Western North Carolina. In the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions, timber rattlesnakes are more likely to be lighter, pinkish-gray or tan, with a distinct reddish stripe running the length of their backs. Even on the darkest mountain individuals, the snake’s signature dark, V-shaped crossbands are usually faintly visible.
The number of timber rattlesnakes in North Carolina is shrinking due to habitat fragmentation. Roads and urban development fragment the timber rattlesnake’s habitat into isolated patches.
Ring-necked Snake
Like other snakes on this list, not all ring-necked snakes (Diadophis punctatus) are black. However, there are enough predominantly black individuals in North Carolina for them to find a place on our list of black snakes in the state.
Black is not the most common color for the ring-necked snake, but they do exist.
©Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock.com
They’re called ring-necked snakes because of the bright collar-like ring around their necks. These neck rings range in color but are generally bright orange or yellow. Ring-necked snakes are one of the smallest snakes in the world, rarely reaching one foot long.
Ring-necked snakes spend most of their time hiding. These snakes hunt along waterways for prey, including slugs, worms, toads, newts, and frogs. Their saliva contains mild venom that affects small prey, but it is not dangerous to humans.
