21 Snakes In Pennsylvania

Written by Tracy Graham
Updated: December 27, 2022
ยฉ iStock.com/David Kenny
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Pennsylvania is one of the first states that was created when the country was formed and it has a rich history. It also has a unique natural landscape that incorporates grassland, caves and canyons, and part of the Appalachian Mountains. The combination of the varied landscape and the variety of wildlife that live in the state create abundant habitats for snakes in the state. There are 21 different types of snakes that are native to Pennsylvania. Only three of those different types of snakes are venomous so when you are out enjoying the many different outdoor activities that are available to residents and visitors in Pennsylvania you will likely not encounter any venomous snakes.

21 Snakes In Pennsylvania

From the Pocono mountains to the underground caves filled with coal there are many types of snakes that are spread out throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Even the cold winters and snow canโ€™t deter these types of snakes from making Pennsylvania their home:

Northern Ring-Necked Snake

Like many other states Pennsylvania has an abundance of Northern Ring-Necked snakes. The Northern Ring-Necked snake is very small. Most of these snakes are only between 10 and 12 inches long. Itโ€™s very common for them to be under a foot long. Although in some areas they can grow to be about a foot and a half long they are usually a little less than a foot long. They are thin and have a dark base color of olive, brown, or black.

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You can easily identify a Ring-Necked snake by the small size and by the bright colored ring or stripe around the snakeโ€™s neck. These snakes thrive in a moist and dark environment. You can find them in grasslands and forests taking up residence in downed trees or under rocks. But you can also find them in more settled areas near people living in garden mulch, piles of leaves, or in sheds, barns, and other outbuildings.

Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus)
There is an abundance of Ring Necked Snakes in Pennsylvania.

ยฉTucker Heptinstall/Shutterstock.com

Eastern Milk Snake

The Eastern Milk Snake is another very common snake in Pennsylvania. These snakes are a little bigger than the Ring-Necked snake and tend to average about three feet long. One of the signature features of an Eastern Milk Snake is having wide brown or reddish brown bands edged with black that run the entire length of the snakeโ€™s body. Base colors for the Eastern Milk Snake are typically light gray or light brown. Milk snakes prefer to be hidden and stay underground as much as possible. But they have also been known to inhabit barns, sheds, and outbuildings which is one of the reasons why this type of snake has been called the โ€œFarmers Friendโ€. They eat rodents and small mammals and are harmless to humans.

close up of milk snake
The Eastern Milk Snake is called the โ€œFarmers Friendโ€ because of their diet of rodents and small mammals.

ยฉiStock.com/wScottLoy

Northern Water Snake

The Northern Water Snake is the most common aquatic snake in the U.S. and is found in many states across the country including Pennsylvania. Water snakes may be mistaken for a Cottonmouth, but the Water snake is not venomous like the Cottonmouth. If you are not sure if the snake youโ€™re looking at is a Northern Water snake or a Cottonmouth look at the snakeโ€™s mouth. A Cottonmouth will have a white patch near the mouth that the Northern Water snake wonโ€™t have; conversely, the watersnake has vertical bars around the lips. Northern Water snakes often appear to have bright colors and markings when they are in the water or just out of the water but once their scales dry their colors will look muted.

northern water snake in water
The northern water snake reaches up to 4.5 feet in length and is commonly misidentified as a Cottonmouth.

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Northern Black Racer

Racer snakes are the some of the fastest moving snakes. They can move at speeds up to four miles per hour and they will move at max speed to get away from humans. If you surprise a northern black racer it is much more likely to flee from you than act aggressively. And because the snake is so fast thereโ€™s not a big chance that you will cross paths with it. However, if you do come across a northern black racer snake donโ€™t corner it or attempt to handle it. Racers tend to be bitier than others when you corner them and theyโ€™re quick to bite โ€“ even though theyโ€™re not venomous it hurts!

Snakes That Look Like Copperheads-Black Racer Snake
The black racer isย an agileย and very fast animal that can โ€œrunโ€ (crawl) 4 miles per hour when it is threatened, hence the name โ€œracerโ€.

ยฉBreck P. Kent/Shutterstock.com

Queen Snake

In Pennsylvania Queen snakes are found in many of the rivers and streams that dot the central regions and flow down from the mountains. Queen snakes are semi-aquatic and feed almost exclusively on crayfish. These snakes are only about two feet long as adults and they usually have a dark olive or dull brown color that helps them blend in with the muddy river bottoms it prefers. Queen snakes are harmless to humans but can still give you a fright if youโ€™re kayaking or fishing and come across one. But you have nothing to fear from queensnakes.

Queen Snake (Regina septemvittata)
Queen Snakes are found in many rivers and streams that dot the central regions of Pennsylvania and flow down the mountains.

ยฉNathan A Shepard/Shutterstock.com

Ribbon Snake

Ribbon snakes are semi-aquatic and prefer a wet environment. However, they also live adjacent to the water in forests around lakes and rivers or in marshy areas around the edges of ponds and waterways. These snakes are small and generally just two to three feet long. They have slender bodies that are black or reddish brown. Ribbon snakes also have three long thin yellow stripes that run the entire length of the body. Even though the ribbon snakeโ€™s body is dark the belly is white or yellow.

Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus) Garter North American Non-venomous Snake
Ribbon snakes are semi-aquatic and prefer a wet environment.

ยฉCreeping Things/Shutterstock.com

Eastern Smooth Earth Snake

The eastern smooth earth snake is a subspecies only found in southeastern Pennsylvania. This tiny snake prefers to stay underground so itโ€™s not seen very often. These snakes are only about 5 to 10 inches long and their small size combined with their desire to be hidden underground make them almost undetectable. But if you live in southeastern Pennsylvania you may find them in your basement, living under your garden, or hiding out in your yard.

Smooth Earth Snake
The Eastern Smooth Earth Snake is only found in the southeastern region of Pennsylvania. They are found in basements, under gardens and hiding in the yard.

ยฉMatt Jeppson/Shutterstock.com

Venomous Snakes In Pennsylvania

Since there are only a few types of venomous snakes in Pennsylvania there is a very low chance that you ever will even see a venomous snake in this state. Your chances of getting bitten by a venomous snake are even lower. However, that doesnโ€™t mean that itโ€™s safe to approach or try to handle any snake. All snakes can bite when they feel threatened or cornered. And you should be especially careful when you do see one of these types of venomous snakes in Pennsylvania:

Timber Rattlesnake

Timber Rattlesnakes live primarily in the mountains and in the forests that border the mountains. They prefer to spend their time on the rocky outcroppings in the mountains or in the forests in the Pennsylvania hills. If you live in or spend time in the Poconos you may come across a Timber Rattlesnake. These snakes can be up to 60 inches long and they are very wide and heavy. The distinctive rattle of this snake will let you know instantly that youโ€™re dealing with a venomous snake. Timber Rattlesnakes tend to have colors that reflect the areas they are in to help them camouflage into their surroundings. Be careful when you are hiking or walking in the mountains because you may cross paths with a Timber Rattlesnake. If you do the best thing to do is freeze in your tracks and then back up slowly.

Iowa Snakes - Timber Rattlesnake
Timber Rattlesnakes are commonly found in the rocky outcrops in mountains and forests of the Pennsylvania hills.

ยฉEric Isselee/Shutterstock.com

Northern Copperhead Rattlesnake

Northern Copperhead Rattlesnakes are the most common venomous snake in Pennsylvania. They live in grass fields and clearings across the entire state. Copperhead snakes have a light gray or light tan body and red brown or brown markings. They are only about three feet long but they are wide and heavy like most rattlesnakes.

What Does a Copperhead Snake Look Like
The Northern Copperhead Snake is the most common venomous snake in Pennsylvania.

ยฉBreck P. Kent/Shutterstock.com

Eastern Massasauga Snake

The Eastern Massasauga snake is another type of rattlesnake that lives in meadows, prairies, and grasslands. In Pennsylvania you can find these venomous snakes living in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Lawrence, Mercer and Venango. The smallest Eastern Massasauga snakes are just about 18 inches long and the longest are only about 40 inches long so this is not a large snake. But it does have deadly venom so you should always be careful if you see one.

Massasauga on a rock
The Massasauga Snake is found in the Pennsylvania counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Lawrence, Mercer and Venango.

ยฉRusty Dodson/Shutterstock.com

A Complete List Of Snakes In Pennsylvania

No matter where you are in Pennsylvania there are snakes nearby. Even if you donโ€™t live in one of the limited areas where venomous snakes like to live there are snake all over. The complete list of snakes you may find in Pennsylvania is:

Common NameScientific NameEstimated Size
Timber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus36 to 40 in. (91 to 101 cm)
Northern Copperhead RattlesnakeAgkistrodon contortrix mokasen24 โ€“ 40 in. (61 โ€“ 102 cm)
Eastern Massasauga SnakeSistrurus catenatus24-30 in. (60-75 cm)
Eastern Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis sirtalis18 โ€“ 26 in. (45.7 โ€“ 66 cm)
Shorthead Garter SnakeThamnophis brachystoma18 โ€“ 26 in. (46 โ€“ 66 cm)
Northern Ring-Necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus edwardsii8-14 in. (21-36 cm)
Eastern Milk SnakeLampropeltis triangulum24-36 in. (61-90 cm)
Eastern Hognose SnakeHeterodon platirhinos49.9 in. (126.8 cm)
Northern Water SnakeNerodia sipedon24 to 55 in. (61-140 cm)
Northern Black RacerColuber constrictor20-56 in. (50-142 cm)
Eastern Rat SnakePantherophis alleghaniensis42-72 in. (106-183 cm)
Rough Green SnakeOpheodrys aestivus14-33 in. (35-82 cm)
Smooth Green SnakeOpheodrys vernalisup to 22 in. (56 cm)
Queen SnakeRegina septemvittata15-24 in. (38-61 cm)
Northern Brown SnakeStoreria dekayi9-13 in. (23-33 cm)
Northern Red-Bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata8-10 in. (20-26 cm)
Eastern Worm SnakeCarphophis amoenus amoenusย 7.5-15 in. (19-38 cm)
Kirtlandโ€™s Green SnakeClonophis kirtlandii12-18 in. (30โ€“46 cm)
Ribbon SnakeThamnophis sauritus18-26 in. (46-66 cm)
Mountain Earth SnakeHaldea striatula7-10 in. (18-26 cm)
Eastern Smooth Earth SnakeVirginia valeriae7-10 in. (18-26 cm)

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The Featured Image

Northern Copperhead (agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) on leaf litter - taken in New Jersey. Its ground color is pale brown to pinkish-brown, and it has darker, hour-glass shaped bands down its body.
Northern Copperhead (agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) on leaf litter - taken in New Jersey. Its ground color is pale brown to pinkish-brown, and it has darker, hour-glass shaped bands down its body.
ยฉ iStock.com/David Kenny

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)ย 

What type of venomous snakes live in Pennsylvania?

The 3 common venomous snakes you will find in Pennsylvania are the Timber Rattlesnake, Northern Copperhead Rattlesnake and the Eastern Massasauga snake.

Why is the Eastern Smooth Snake so hard to find in Pennsylvania?

The Eastern Smooth Earth snake is only found in southeastern Pennsylvania. This tiny snake prefers to stay underground so it not often seen.

What snake is often confused with the venomous Cottonmouth?

The Northern Water Snake is often confused with the venomous Cottonmouth.

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