Snakes in Wisconsin - USA Snakes

On this page, you can find an overview of snakes in Wisconsin. The list is separated into non-venomous and venomous snakes in Wisconsin. This should give you a quick overview if you are dealing with a venomous snake or not.

Wisconsin has 21 snake species. Two of them are venomous: the timber rattlesnake and the massasauga. The other 19 species are harmless for humans and larger pets. Just click on any of the images or links to the detail pages of the snakes below to learn more about the snake.

If you have encountered a snake in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

The timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) and the eastern massasauga are the only two venomous snakes found in Wisconsin. Both species are rarely seen, as the massasauga is endangered in the state and the timber rattlesnake is of special concern. Both species of venomous snakes are found in the southeastern parts of Wisconsin.

Crotalus Horridus – Timber Rattlesnake

The timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus, is a venomous snake native to the Eastern part of North America. It is usually ...
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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 ...
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List of non-venomous snakes in Wisconsin

Of the 19 non-venomous snakes in Wisconsin, 5 species are of the genus garter snakes. These snakes usually have a dark body coloration with three brightly-colored longitudinal stripes along their back. The (eastern) ribbon snake and the western ribbon snake, which belong both to the garter snake genus, are considered endangered species in Wisconsin. The water-loving queen snake that feeds almost exclusively on young crayfish is also an endangered species in Wisconsin. The common garter snake, the fox snake and the smooth green snake are some of the most common snakes found in Wisconsin.

List of venomous snakes in Wisconsin

Crotalus Horridus – Timber Rattlesnake

Sistrurus Catenatus – Massasauga Snake

List of non-venomous snakes in Wisconsin

Carphophis Vermis – Western Worm Snake

Coluber Constrictor – Racer

Diadophis Punctatus – Ring-Necked Snake

Heterodon Platirhinos – Eastern Hognose Snake

Lampropeltis Triangulum – Milk Snake

Nerodia Sipedon – Common Watersnake

Opheodrys Vernalis – Smooth Green Snake

Pantherophis Spiloides – Grey Rat Snake

Pantherophis Vulpinus – Eastern Fox Snake

Pituophis Catenifer – Pacific Gopher Snake

Regina Septemvittata – Queen Snake

Storeria Dekayi – Brown Snake

Storeria Occipitomaculata – Redbelly Snake

Thamnophis Butleri – Butler’s Garter Snake

Thamnophis Proximus – Western Ribbon Snake

Thamnophis Radix – Plains Garter Snake

Thamnophis Sauritus – Ribbon Snake

Thamnophis Sirtalis – Common Garter Snake

Tropidoclonion Lineatum – Lined Snake