31 Snakes In Utah

Written by Tracy Graham
Updated: November 4, 2022
ยฉ Creeping Things/Shutterstock.com
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Utah is a beautiful state known for having striking mountains and stunning rock formations caused by centuries of erosion and climate changes. Another thing that Utah is known for is for having a large number of native snakes. The mountains, semi-desert, and rocky landscape are the ideal habitats for more than 30 different kinds of snakes.

Utah is particularly known for being โ€œrattlesnake countryโ€ because it has many different kinds of rattlesnakes that live in the state. In fact, all of the venomous snakes that live in Utah are rattlesnakes or a type of snake related to rattlesnakes.

So when youโ€™re in Utah you must always have one on the ground in front of you scanning for movement so that you donโ€™t surprise a venomous snake.

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31 Snakes In Utah

There are other types of snake in Utah also that are not venomous. In fact, most of the snakes that live in Utah arenโ€™t venomous. Some of the most common non-venomous snakes in Utah include:

Rubber Boa Snake

Rubber Boa snakes arenโ€™t venomous and even though they are boas they wonโ€™t usually hurt people. They constrict their prey, but not people. They are pretty laid-back snakes and it takes a lot to get them upset enough to attack. Rubber Boa snakes have a glossy gray or olive appearance and their scales give them the appearance of a mottled piece of rubber. Thatโ€™s where their name comes from. They are usually about three feet long.

They like to hide in rocks, which is why Utah is the perfect home for them.

Rubber Boa
Rubber Boa Snakes like to hide under rocks, which is why Utah is a perfect place for them to live.

ยฉMatt Jeppson/Shutterstock.com

Western Territorial Garter Snake

These Garter snakes are very common in southwest Utah. They like rocky habitats and can be found in Zion National Park or the Pine Valley Mountains. They also can be found in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve area, near the Virgin River, and up in the Red Mountain Wilderness. Western Territorial Garter snakes have colors that match their surroundings. They are usually shades of tan or brown to blend into the rocky landscape but they can also be gray.

A Western Territorial Garter Snake
A Western Territorial Garter Snake found in a garden in Moab, Utah after surviving a bird attack.

ยฉWill Pedro/Shutterstock.com

Night Snake

Night snakes are typically found in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve area and through out Utah. They are only about two feet long and are dark gray or dark brown. Night snakes arenโ€™t venomous but they can release a mild toxin if they handled. So itโ€™s not a good idea to approach or handle a Night snake. You probably wouldnโ€™t even see a Night snake unless it crossed a trail right in front of you.

They only hunt at night and hide during the day. If you are starting a hike early in the morning or setting up camp after dark you might see one but most of the time you wonโ€™t see them.

A non-venomous Night Snake
Night snakes arenโ€™t venomous but they can release a mild toxin if they handled

ยฉRusty Dodson/Shutterstock.com

Gopher Snake

Gopher snakes are one of the longest types of snakes. They can get to be over seven feet long, although typically they are just five to six feet long.ย  Gopher snakes are typically light brown or light gray with dark brown or dark gray markings. Whatโ€™s unique about Gopher snakes is that they can climb trees, hide under rocks, and make a home just about anywhere. Anytime you are out in an area where there trees in Utah make sure that youโ€™re looking above you as well as at the ground below to watch out for Gopher snakes.

gopher snake by concrete wall
Gopher snakes like to climb trees. Anytime you are out in an area with trees in Utah, be sure you are looking above you as well as below.

ยฉCedar Dobson/Shutterstock.com

Sonoran Lyre Snake

Sonoran Lyre snakes are on the small side and donโ€™t usually grow more than three to three and a half feet. Like many of the other snakes in Utah they tend to have gray and brown colorations that help them blend into the rocks and landscape. But Sonoran Lyre snakes will mimic deadly rattlesnakes in an attempt to protect themselves from predators.

So if you see a Sonoran Lyre snake donโ€™t be fooled by its performance. It may rattle against leaves to mimic the rattle of a rattlesnake or even raise up like a rattlesnake. But it has no venom and wonโ€™t hurt you. It will often flee rather than fight given the chance.

A Sonoran Lyre Snake
Sonoran Lyre snakes will mimic deadly rattlesnakes in an attempt to protect themselves from predators.

ยฉJon Bolton/Shutterstock.com

Milk Snake

Milk snakes are also fakers in the snake world. They have incredibly bright bold coloration that mimics the colors and patterns of a highly venomous Coral snake. But Milk snakes are not venomous. You can tell if a snake is a Milk snake or a Coral snake by looking at the color of the two thin bands bordering the wide red bands on the snakeโ€™s back.

If the bands on either side of the red stripe are white itโ€™s Coral snake. If they are black then itโ€™s a Milk snake and itโ€™s not dangerous to you.

What Do Milk Snakes Eat - Campbell's Milk Snake
A Milk Snake is a โ€fakerโ€ in the snake world. Their bright, bold coloration mimics that of the Coral Snake which is highly venomous.

ยฉSeregraff/Shutterstock.com

Venomous Snakes In Utah

Utah is unique because all of the venomous snakes in this state are rattlesnakes except for the Sidewinder, and the Sidewinder is actually related to rattlesnakes. There are a lot of venomous snakes in Utah so be sure that youโ€™re always paying attention to what is around you even if youโ€™re just out doing work in your yard so that you donโ€™t surprise a venomous snake. The types of venomous snakes in Utah are:

Great Basin Rattlesnake

Great Basin rattlesnakes are active in the southwestern part of Utah. Their primary color can be gray, tan, brown, olive, or yellow and they typically have dark brown markings. They are only between two and four feet long so they arenโ€™t that large but they blend into the surroundings extremely well. They have exceptionally sharp senses so they might know that youโ€™re close before you know youโ€™re close to them. Anytime you hear a rattle when youโ€™re outdoors take immediate precautions to avoid an encounter with a venomous snake.

Great Basin Rattlesnake
Great Basin Rattlesnakes are only between two and four feet long so they arenโ€™t that large but they blend into the surroundings extremely well.

ยฉMatt Jeppson/Shutterstock.com

Sidewinder Snake

Sidewinders are sometimes called horned rattlesnakes because they have a unique headshape that makes it look like they have two horns on their head. But the most unique thing about a Sidewinder snake is the way it moves. Instead of slithering along the ground Sidewinder snakes will pick themselves up and form an S shape with their body.

The S shape allows them to propel themselves forward but in a sideways motion. Some experts theorize that this type of motion evolved because the snakeโ€™s primary habitat is on hot sand. The S shape allows the snake to move freely in loose sandy soil and avoids as much contact with the hot sand as possible.

Sidewinder Snake
A Sidewinder Snake is named for the S shape they form with their bodies as they move.

ยฉRA fotografia/Shutterstock.com

Midget Faded Rattlesnake

As you may have guessed from this snakeโ€™s name itโ€™s small for a rattlesnake. Itโ€™s less than three feet long which is not as long as a typical rattlesnake but not as small as a pygmy rattlesnake. The scales on a Midget Faded Rattlesnake have a mottled appearance that makes it look faded. They are typically yellow or tan or reddish brown.

But the most important thing to know about a Midget Faded Rattlesnake is that it is one of the deadliest snakes in all of North America. It has extremely potent venom that can cause serious harm.

A Midget Faded Rattlesnake is one of the deadliest snakes found in North America.

ยฉRusty Dodson/Shutterstock.com

Mojave Green Rattlesnake

Another potentially very scary venomous snake in Utah is the Mojave Green Rattlesnake. Thankfully this snake only is found in the extreme southwestern part of Utah. Because the Mojave Green Rattlesnake may be even more dangerous than the Midget Faded Rattlesnake. The Mojave Green snake can deliver venom through itsโ€™ fangs even after it is dead.

The Mojave Green rattlesnake also has delayed venom. So if you are bitten by a Mojave Green Rattlesnake you may not feel any symptoms and think you are fine until it hits and then youโ€™re in real trouble. However, the good news is that if you are bitten by a Mojave Green Rattlesnake you probably have time to get yourself to medical care before the venom starts to affect you.

Mojave Rattlesnake
The Mojave Green Rattlesnake has a delayed venom which causes one to feel like they will be fine. This makes them sometimes more deadly than the Midget Faded Rattlesnake.

ยฉCreeping Things/Shutterstock.com

Prairie Rattlesnake

Like most rattlesnakes the Prairie Rattlesnake is between three and five feet long. It has a light tan to light brown coloration but you may not ever see one. Most of the time this rattlesnake is nocturnal and only comes out at night to hunt.

Prairie Rattlesnake
A Prairie Rattlesnake is nocturnal and only comes out at night to hunt.

ยฉNathan A Shepard/Shutterstock.com

Hopi Rattlesnake

The Hopi Rattlesnake is similar in size and appearance to the Prairie Rattlesnake, but itโ€™s smaller and usually isnโ€™t longer than two feet. This snake is also nocturnal. Itโ€™s a very shy snake for a rattlesnake and if you do see one and you pause and give it a chance to flee it likely will flee rather than fight you.

A Hopi Rattlesnake
The Hopi Rattlesnake is a very shy snake for a rattlesnake and if you do see one and you pause and give it a chance to flee it likely will flee rather than fight you.

ยฉK Hanley CHDPhoto/Shutterstock.com

Speckled Rattlesnake

Another rattlesnake that is typically found in southwestern Utah is the Speckled Rattlesnake. This snake is unique because it is typically white or very light gray in color with black markings. The colors help it to blend into the rocks but when itโ€™s out hunting you should be able to see the white body color clearly. Like the Hopi Rattlesnake the Speckled Rattlesnake tops out at about two feet so itโ€™s not a large snake.

A Speckled Rattlesnake
The Speckled Rattlesnake colors help it to blend into the rocks but when itโ€™s out hunting you should be able to see the white body color clearly.

ยฉDario Sabljak/Shutterstock.com

A Complete List Of Snakes In Utah

Most people wonโ€™t get bitten by a venomous snake in Utah. But because there are so many types of snakes in this state, especially so many venomous snakes, itโ€™s smart to keep your guard up and your eyes open whenever you are being active in Utah.

The complete list of snakes in Utah is:

RankSnakes in Utah
1Rubber Boa Snake
2Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
3Sonora Mountain King Snake
4Striped Whip Snake
5Night Snake
6Desert Night Snake
7Western Patch-Nosed Snake
8Long-Nosed Snake
9Western Blind Snake
10Gopher Snake
11Glossy Snake
12Western Ground Snake
13Smithโ€™s Black-Headed Snake
14Western Lyre Snake
15Milk Snake
16Smooth Green Snake
17Coachwhip Snake
18Eastern Racer
19Californiaย Kingsnakeย 
20Black-Necked Garter Snake
21Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake
22Sonoran Lyre Snake
23Ring-Necked Snake
24Great Plains Rat Snakeย 

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Mojave Rattlesnake
The Mojave rattlesnake, including both of its subspecies, typically grows to between 3.3 ft and 4.5 ft in length.
ยฉ Creeping Things/Shutterstock.com

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)ย 

Why is Utah called Rattlesnake Country?

All of the venomous snakes in Utah are rattlesnakes, except for the Sidewinder. There are many venomous snakes in Utah, so it is important to always be aware of your surroundings.

What is a Night Snake?

Night snakes are typically found in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve area and through out Utah. They are only about two feet long and are dark gray or dark brown. Night snakes arenโ€™t venomous but they can release a mild toxin if they handled. So itโ€™s not a good idea to approach or handle a Night snake. You probably wouldnโ€™t even see a Night snake unless it crossed a trail right in front of you.

Why are Milk Snakes called the โ€œfakersโ€ of the snake world?

They have incredibly bright bold coloration that mimics the colors and patterns of a highly venomous Coral snake.

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