Snakes in Maine

On this page, you can find an overview of the nine snake species found in Maine. Maine is one of the few states in the United States where no venomous snakes can be found. A few decades ago, occasional sightings of the venomous timber rattlesnake have been recorded in Southern Maine. But since it hasn’t been found in Maine for several decades, it has been declared extirpated in Maine.

If you have encountered a snake in Maine 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 non-venomous snakes in Maine

The most common of the nine snake species of Maine are the common garter snake and the common watersnake. The North American racer is listed as an endangered species in Main. The smallest snake in Maine is the red-bellied snake with a size of up to 12 inches (30 cm). The common garter snake, the milk snake and the common watersnake are Maine’s largest snakes with maximum sizes of up to 55 inches (135 cm).

Thamnophis Sauritus - Ribbon Snake information and overview

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 ...
Lampropeltis Triangulum - Milk Snake information and overview

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 Vernalis - Smooth Green Snake information

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 ...
Nerodia sipedon Common water snake information

Nerodia Sipedon – Common Watersnake

The common watersnake is a nonvenomous snake that is often seen throughout the Eastern United States as well as Southeastern ...
A red-brown redbelly snake found in Missouri

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 grey brown with yellow belly and yellow ring around its neck

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 ...
Storeria Dekayi - Brown Snake De Kay's Snake North America description and overview

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 information and subspecies overview

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 ...
Eastern racer Coluber constrictor in the United States overview

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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