Snakes in Massachusetts

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 Information brown colored snake eastern north america venomous

Agkistrodon Contortrix – Copperhead Snake

The copperhead snake, Agkistrodon contortrix, is a venomous snake that can be found throughout the Eastern United States. It grows ...
Crotalus Horridus Timber Rattlesnake information - light coloration body

Crotalus Horridus – Timber Rattlesnake

The timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus, is a venomous snake native to the Eastern part of North America. It is usually ...

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 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 ...
Heterodon Platirhinos - Eastern Hognose Snake grey and black

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 ...
Indotyphlops braminus - Brahminy blind snake in the United States overview

Indotyphlops Braminus – Brahminy Blind Snake

Indotyphlops Braminus, the Brahminy blind snake is a nonvenomous blind snake found throughout the world. The small, worm-like snake originates ...
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 ...
Pantherophis Alleghaniensis - Eastern Rat Snake black and white snake round eyes

Pantherophis Alleghaniensis – Eastern Rat Snake

Pantherophis alleghaniensis, commonly called the eastern rat snake or the black rat snake is a large nonvenomous snake found in ...
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 ...
Carphophis Amoenus - Worm Snake information

Carphophis Amoenus – Worm Snake

The worm snake, Carphophis amoenus, is a small nonvenomous snake species that can be found throughout the Eastern 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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