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
Sistrurus Catenatus – Massasauga Snake
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.
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
