Which National Park Has The Most Snakes In The United States?

Written by Chanel Coetzee
Updated: June 21, 2023
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There are approximately 150 species of snakes in North America, with only 10% being venomous. Snakes with highly toxic venom include copperheads, rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and coral snakes. All indigenous snakes are beneficial to plants and animals in their habitats. Additionally, all venomous snakes in the United States, except coral snakes, are members of a group called pit vipers. Texas has over 68 species of snakes, but only 15 are dangerous to humans. But which National Park has the most snakes in the United States?

National Park With The Largest Snake Population In The USA

Sierra Castellan in Big Bend National Park, Texas

Big Bend National Park has the largest snake population in the United States of any national park.

©Fredlyfish4/Shutterstock.com

The National Park with the largest snake population in the United States is Big Bend National Park in Texas which contains 31 species, of which four species are rattlesnakes. The best time to find a snake in the National Park is during the summer after it has rained. Snakes species found in Big Bend National Park include:

Red Racer

A red racer snake in the desert with its head raised

Red racers usually prefer the desert’s open, rocky landscape and avoid dense vegetation and forested areas. They like to move quickly and can easily slither through sagebrush,  grasslands, or hilly terrain.

©Jason Mintzer/Shutterstock.com

The red racer also called a red coachwhip, is non-venomous and inhabits Arizona, Texas, southern California, and Nevada. These snakes are slender, with adults measuring 36 to 102 inches long. They have tan, red, pink, or brown scales along their backs and black bands around their necks. Furthermore, their bellies are covered in pink scales. And they derived their name from the distinctive scales on their tails that look like a braided whip, thus the nickname coachwhip.

Red racers usually prefer the desert’s open, rocky landscape and avoid dense vegetation and forested areas. They like to move quickly and can easily slither through sagebrush,  grasslands, or hilly terrain. Additionally, these snakes often seek shelter in gaps under rocks or vegetation, in crawlspaces, or in rodent burrows.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Western diamondback rattlesnake

Western diamondback rattlesnakes occur throughout the southwestern US in New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, California, and northern Mexico.

©iStock.com/Banu R

The Western diamond rattlesnake has a triangular head and is heavy-bodied. They derived their name from the diamond-shaped patterns along their backs. In addition, they have two diagonal lines on either side of their faces, from their eyes to their jaws. These snakes are not fussy when it comes to habitat, as they can survive in forests, deserts, grassy plains, coastlines, and rocky hillsides. They occur throughout the southwestern US in New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, California, and northern Mexico.

Black-Tailed Rattlesnake

A Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus, striking at a prey or a threat

While black-tailed rattlesnakes spend most of their time on the ground, they are excellent climbers and swimmers.

©Joe McDonald/Shutterstock.com

The black-tailed rattlesnakes are solitary snakes and their behavior changes throughout the year. For example, they are primarily diurnal during the spring and fall. However, in summer, they are mainly active at night to avoid the heat. Furthermore, the black-tailed rattlesnake hibernates during winter in nests it builds itself or abandoned dens, often with other species of snakes. While black-tailed rattlesnakes spend most of their time on the ground, they are excellent climbers and swimmers.

These snakes are one of the most docile rattlesnakes because of their calm nature and curiosity. Therefore, bites from black-tailed rattlesnakes are relatively rare. Furthermore, they primarily rely on their camouflage to avoid detection.

Rock Rattlesnake

Rock Rattlesnake

These rattlesnakes have a diet consisting of lizards, centipedes, birds, small mammals, and other snakes.

©Nathan A Shepard/Shutterstock.com

The rock rattlesnake is relatively small compared to other rattlesnakes, as it barely exceeds 24 inches. They are generally gray with black bands. However, some take on a greenish or pink hue. These rattlesnakes have a diet consisting of lizards, centipedes, birds, small mammals, and other snakes. Furthermore, they mainly inhabit southwestern areas of the United States and Mexico.

Rock rattlesnakes display a level of sexual dimorphism as females are generally gray, while males have an olive complexion. These snakes are threatened by poachers and loss of habitat.

Mojave Rattlesnake

Mojave Rattlesnake

Their green coloring earned them the nickname Mojave greens in certain areas.

©Creeping Things/Shutterstock.com

The Mojave rattlesnake is a dangerous pit viper that occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Additionally, they are highly venomous. In fact, their venom is one of the most toxic rattlesnake venoms in the world! They are easily identified by their large triangular heads and heavy bodies. Furthermore, their color varies from pale green to shades of brown depending on their location. As a result, their green coloring earned them the nickname Mojave greens in certain areas. Lastly, they have a dark diamond pattern on their backs and a light stripe that emerges from the corner of their mouths.

Bullsnake

The Bullsnake is similar to the Western Rattlesnake. It has black, brown, reddish or white dorsal blotches on a yellow, cream-colored or beige ground.

Unfortunately, bullsnakes are often killed by cars or trucks due to their slow pace or their need to bask on hot roads.

©steve estvanik/Shutterstock.com

Bullsnakes are unpredictable as they vary in temperament. For example, some are docile, while others become defensive and aggressive when handled. When threatened, they hiss loudly and lift their bodies in an S-shape to seem intimidating. However, they are non-venomous and won’t strike unless they are seriously provoked.

These snakes benefit humans by eating large quantities of cotton rats, gophers, mice, and small mammals. Additionally, they are abundant in areas with burrowing animal systems, as they eat prairie dogs, ground squirrels, ground-nesting birds, and rabbits. Bullsnakes primarily hunt during the day, except for summer, when they tend to avoid the heat and come out at dusk. Furthermore, they hibernate in winter and merge during March or April when their mating season starts.

Unfortunately, bullsnakes are often killed by cars or trucks due to their slow pace or their need to bask on hot roads. Fatalities on roads and habitat destruction are the primary reasons for the early death of this long-living snake. The oldest bullsnake in captivity lived for 22 years.

Patchnose Snake

Patch-nosed snake

Patchnose snakes occur in the southwestern states of the US, Baja California, and northwestern Mexico.

©iStock.com/milehightraveler

The patchnose snake measures 1.4 to 3.4 feet in length. One of their most identifiable features is the large patch-like rostral scale on their nose. They have a dark stripe running down each side of their bodies and a dark border down the center of their backs. Sometimes the stripes are obscured by crossbars. Furthermore, their bellies are pale or sometimes a faint orange.

Patchnose snakes occur in the southwestern United States, Baja California, and northwestern Mexico. In addition, they also inhabit Isla San Jose and Isla Tiburon in the Gulf of Mexico. They prefer habitats with sandy soils, desert scrub, or rocky regions in lowland deserts. Furthermore, they occur on the lower slopes of mountains, grasslands, and pinyon-juniper woodlands.

Garter Snake

Garter Snake, West - Direction, Animals Hunting, Close-up, Danger

These snakes are relatively harmless, and many people keep them as pets.

©iStock.com/yhelfman

The garter snake is one of the United States’ most common snake species. They range from Florida all the way to Canada. These snakes are relatively harmless, and many people keep them as pets. However, some subspecies possess a mild neurotoxin, but it is not harmful to humans. Garter snakes vary significantly in color. However, many have three longitudinal stripes—two on their sides and one on their backs.

Baird’s Rat Snake

A juvenile Baird's rat snake on a large rock

Baird’s rat snakes’ offspring look different from adults. As the juveniles grow, they slowly lose their baby coloration and spotted patterns.

©Matt Jeppson/Shutterstock.com

As their name suggests, Baird’s rat snakes mainly eat rodents. However, they also eat other animals or animal byproducts like small birds and eggs. They are very skilled hunters and can even cat their prey in trees because of their excellent climbing skills. But they are primarily found on the ground. Baird’s rat snakes’ offspring look different from adults. As the juveniles grow, they slowly lose their baby coloration and spotted patterns. In addition, the long dorsal stripes on the sides of their bodies start to develop as they grow. Their colors can vary from gold, orange, silver, and brown, depending on their geographical location. In fact, sometimes, they can be a mix of all these colors.

Trans-Pecos Rat Snake

Trans-Pecos ratsnake

Trans-Pecos rat snakes have a row of tiny scales between the upper labials and the lower border of the eye.

©Rusty Dodson/Shutterstock.com

The Trans-Pecos rat snake is also called a Davis mountain rat snake. They are medium to large-sized non-venomous snake that belongs to the Colubridae family. Furthermore, they have a row of tiny scales between the upper labials and the lower border of the eye. In addition, they have tan or yellow backs with a pattern of dark brown or black H-shaped markings. They have prominent, light-colored eyes, an evident round black pupil, and a pink tongue.

Where is Big Bend National Park Located on a Map?

Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas includes the Chisos mountain range and stretches of the Chihuahuan Desert. Visitors can explore the ruins of Sam Nail Ranch on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, which now serves as a home for desert wildlife. The Santa Elena Canyon, carved by the Rio Grande, showcases impressive limestone cliffs. Near the Mexican border, Langford Hot Springs features remnants of an old bathhouse. Big Bend National Park offers diverse landscapes and captivating historical sites for exploration.

Here is Big Bend National Park on a map:

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

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About the Author

Chanel Coetzee is a writer at A-Z Animals, primarily focusing on big cats, dogs, and travel. Chanel has been writing and researching about animals for over 10 years. She has also worked closely with big cats like lions, cheetahs, leopards, and tigers at a rescue and rehabilitation center in South Africa since 2009. As a resident of Cape Town, South Africa, Chanel enjoys beach walks with her Stafford bull terrier and traveling off the beaten path.

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