On this page, you can find an overview of snakes in Illinois. The list is separated into non-venomous and venomous snakes in Illinois. This should give you a quick overview if you are dealing with a venomous snake or not. Just click on any of the images or links to learn more about the snake.
If you have encountered a snake in Illinois 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 Illinois
Agkistrodon Contortrix – Copperhead Snake
The copperhead snake, Agkistrodon contortrix, is a venomous snake that can be found throughout the Eastern United States. It grows ...
Agkistrodon Piscivorus – Cottonmouth Snake
Agkistrodon piscivorus, the cottonmouth or water moccasin is a venomous snake that can be found throughout the Eastern United States ...
Crotalus Horridus – Timber Rattlesnake
The timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus, is a venomous snake native to the Eastern part of North America. It is usually ...
Sistrurus Catenatus – Massasauga Snake
The massasauga snake, Sistrurus catenatus, is a venomous snake that can be found in several U.S. states in a wide ...
List of non-venomous snakes in Illinois
Clonophis Kirtlandii – Kirtland’s Snake
The Kirtland's snake is a small non-venomous snake found in the Northern United States. The snake is grey or brown ...
Nerodia Erythrogaster – Plain-Bellied Water Snake
The plain-bellied watersnake is a nonvenomous snake most commonly found in or near water in the Southeastern United States. It ...
Regina Septemvittata – Queen Snake
The queen snake is a non-venomous snake that can be found in or around water and feeds almost exclusively on ...
Thamnophis Proximus – Western Ribbon Snake
The western ribbon snake, thamnophis proximus, is a nonvenomous colubrid snake found in the Central United States, Mexico and parts ...
Thamnophis Sauritus – Ribbon Snake
The ribbon snake, Thamnophis sauritus, is a common non-venomous garter snake species found in the Eastern United States. The snake ...
Carphophis Vermis – Western Worm Snake
The worm snake, Carphophis amoenus, is a small nonvenomous snake species that can be found throughout the Eastern United States ...
Pantherophis Vulpinus – Eastern Fox Snake
Pantherophis vulpinus, the eastern fox snake is a nonvenomous snake species found in the Central United States, east of the ...
Tropidoclonion Lineatum – Lined Snake
The lined snake is a small nonvenomous snake found in the Central United States. The mostly dark snake usually comes ...
Heterodon Platirhinos – Eastern Hognose Snake
The eastern hognose snake is a harmless medium-sized snake found in the Central and Eastern United States. The snake has ...
Lampropeltis Nigra – Black Kingsnake
The black kingsnake is a large, mostly black snake with a yellow and black belly. It can be found in ...
Lampropeltis Holbrooki – Speckled Kingsnake
The speckled kingsnake is a nonvenomous snake found in the Southern and Central United States. This large snake is most ...
Thamnophis Radix – Plains Garter Snake
The plains garter snake is a harmless snake species that is found throughout the Central United States and Canada. The ...
Lampropeltis Triangulum – Milk Snake
The milk snake is a nonvenomous snake that can be found in the Eastern and Central United States, in Canada ...
Opheodrys Aestivus – Rough Green Snake
The rough green snake is a medium-sized green nonvenomous snake found in the Southeastern United States and in Mexico. It ...
Opheodrys Vernalis – Smooth Green Snake
The smooth green snake is a relatively small nonvenomous snake found throughout the Northeastern and Central United States. Its body ...
Heterodon Nasicus – Western Hognose Snake
The western hognose snake, Heterodon nascius, is a harmless snake that can be found throughout the Central United States as ...
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 ...
Pantherophis Spiloides – Grey Rat Snake
Pantherophis spiloides, commonly called the grey rat snake or the pilot snake, central ratsnake, midland ratsnake or chicken snake is ...
Nerodia Sipedon – Common Watersnake
The common watersnake is a nonvenomous snake that is often seen throughout the Eastern United States as well as Southeastern ...
Storeria Occipitomaculata – Redbelly Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata, the redbelly snake is a small, dark brown , grey or black snake with a red, orange or ...
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 ...
Carphophis Amoenus – Worm Snake
The worm snake, Carphophis amoenus, is a small nonvenomous snake species that can be found throughout the Eastern United States ...
Virginia Valeriae – Smooth Earth Snake
The smooth earth snake, Virginia valeriae, is a small nonvenomous snake species that can be found throughout the southern and ...
Cemophora Coccinea – Scarlet Snake
The scarlet snake is a colorful nonvenomous snake that can be found in the Southeastern and the Eastern United States ...
Storeria Dekayi – Brown Snake
Storeris dekayi, commonly called the (American) brown snake or Dekay's snake is a small non-venomous snake that can be found ...
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 ...
Coluber Constrictor – Racer
Coluber constrictor, commonly called the eastern racer is a nonvenomous snake species. The species contains eleven subspecies that can be ...