On this page, you can find an overview of the 15 snakes of Massachusetts. The list is separated into non-venomous and venomous snakes in Massachusetts.
Of the 15 snake species in Massachusetts, only two are venomous: the timber rattlesnake and the copperhead. The other 13 snakes are harmless for humans and larger pets. Just click on any of the images or links below to learn more about the snake.
If you have encountered a snake in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts
The two venomous snakes in Massachusetts are extremely rare to encounter. Both the timber rattlesnake and the copperhead are endangered species and it is illegal to kill, posess or harass the snakes. In unlikely event that you encounter one of the venomous snakes in Massachusetts, stay calm and slowly move away from the snake. The snake is more afraid of you than you are of the snake.
The last recorded death from a snake bite in Massachusetts occured in 1791 (yes, that is correct, over 200 years ago) by a timber rattlesnake.
Agkistrodon Contortrix – Copperhead Snake
Crotalus Horridus – Timber Rattlesnake
List of non-venomous snakes in Massachusetts
Of the 13 non-venomous snakes, the common garter snake and the milk snake are the most common snakes. The black rat snake and the eastern worm snake are both rare to encounter and as listed as endangered and threatened respectively. The common watersnake and the eastern hognose snake are both often mistaken for venomous rattlesnakes and thus killed.
Many other online sources state that there is a total of only 14 snake species in Massachusetts. However, they are forgetting to mention the introduced Brahminy blind snake (or flowerpot snake) that has established a viable population in Massachusetts over the last decades.
Thamnophis Sauritus – Ribbon Snake
Heterodon Platirhinos – Eastern Hognose Snake
Indotyphlops Braminus – Brahminy Blind Snake
Lampropeltis Triangulum – Milk Snake
Opheodrys Vernalis – Smooth Green Snake
Pantherophis Alleghaniensis – Eastern Rat Snake
Nerodia Sipedon – Common Watersnake
Storeria Occipitomaculata – Redbelly Snake
Diadophis Punctatus – Ring-Necked Snake
Carphophis Amoenus – Worm Snake
Storeria Dekayi – Brown Snake
Thamnophis Sirtalis – Common Garter Snake
