Snakes in Idaho

On this page, you can find an overview of snakes in Idaho. The list is separated into non-venomous and venomous snakes in Idaho. Overall, twelve species of snakes can be found in Idaho. Two of them are potentially dangerous rattlesnake species. The other ten snake species are harmless.

Just click on any of the images or links below to learn more about the snake.

If you have encountered a snake in Idaho that is not yet on our list or that you cannot identify yourself, we’ll be happy to identify it for you. Simply take a picture of it and upload your picture, a quick description and the U.S. state where it was found here on our snake identification page. 

List of venomous snakes in Idaho

The two venomous snake species in Idaho are the western rattlenake (Crotalus viridis), also called the prairie rattlesnake and the Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus). Until 2015, the two species have been considered as part of the same species. Around 5-10 people are bitten by medically significant snakes in Idaho every year. Fatalities are very rare. Not all of these bites are caused by wild snakes, but sometimes also by venomous pet snakes.

Crotalus Oreganus – Pacific Rattlesnake

Crotalus oreganus, commonly called the (Northern) Pacific rattlesnake is a venomous rattlesnake found in Western America from British Columbia in ...
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Crotalus Viridis – Western Rattlesnake

The western rattlesnake or prairie rattlensnake, is a venomous snake species that can be found in the Mid-West of the ...
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List of non-venomous snakes in Idaho

The most commonly found nonvenomous snakes in Idaho are racers, whipsnakes and garter snakes. The gohper snake (including its subspecies, the bullsnake) is a nonvenomous snake that mimicks the appearance and behavior of rattlesnakes to deter predators.

Rhinocheilus Lecontei – Long-Nosed Snake

The long-nosed snake is a nonvenomous snake found in arid habitats in the Western United States. It has alternating black ...
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Sonora Semiannulata – Western Ground Snake

Sonora semiannulata, the western ground snake is a small nonvenomous snake found in the Western United States and in Mexico ...
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Masticophis Taeniatus – Striped Whipsnake

The striped whipsnake is a nonvenomous snake found in the Western and Southern United States and in Northwestern Mexico. It ...
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Hypsiglena Torquata – Night Snake

The night snake is a small, mostly nocturnal snake found in the Western United States and in Mexico. Its body ...
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Pituophis Catenifer – Pacific Gopher Snake

The Pacific gopher snake, Pituophis catenifer, is a nonvenomous snake found in the Western United States, Canada and Mexico. It ...
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Thamnophis Elegans – Western Terrestrial Garter Snake

The western terrestrial garter snake is a harmless snake species that can be found throughout the Western United States. Its ...
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Diadophis Punctatus – Ring-Necked Snake

The ring-necked snake, Diadophis punctatus, is a harmless small snake that can be found throughout most of the United States ...
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Thamnophis Sirtalis – Common Garter Snake

The common garter snake is the best-known and most widespread species among the garter snakes. It can be found throughout ...
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Charina Bottae – Rubber Boa

Charina bottae, the rubber boa, is the smaller of the two species of boas native to the United States. It ...
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Coluber Constrictor – Racer

Coluber constrictor, commonly called the eastern racer is a nonvenomous snake species. The species contains eleven subspecies that can be ...
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