Overview
Alabama is one of the most snake-rich states in the country, with around 40 species across its rivers, forests, and coastal plain. Only six are venomous, and knowing the ones you might actually meet takes the fear out of a walk in the woods.
Identify from a distance — a photo from several feet away is all you need. This guide covers the snakes you are most likely to encounter in Alabama.
Key Species to Know
Gray Rat Snake
Pantherophis spiloides
A large, non-venomous constrictor with dark blotches on a gray ground color and a tendency to climb. Often found near barns and outbuildings hunting rodents.
Eastern Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
A slender, harmless snake with three pale stripes running down a dark body. One of the most common and gentle backyard snakes.
Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
A pit viper with hourglass-shaped chestnut bands over a tan body, superbly camouflaged in leaf litter. Venomous but generally mild and reliant on stillness.
Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus
A thick-bodied semi-aquatic pit viper, dark with a pale facial stripe, that gapes to show a white mouth when threatened. Venomous and often confused with water snakes.
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
A large, heavy-bodied rattlesnake with dark chevron crossbands and a rattle. Venomous but usually reluctant to strike; gives a buzzing warning when disturbed.
Eastern Coral Snake
Micrurus fulvius
A small, brightly ringed snake with red, yellow, and black bands, the red and yellow touching. Venomous but secretive and rarely seen.
Seasonal Guide
- Snakes are most active in spring and fall, and on warm summer evenings.
- Watch your footing around rock piles, woodpiles, and river banks.
- Most bites occur when people try to handle or kill a snake — give it room and it will leave.
Safety Reminder
Identify snakes from a safe distance only, and never handle one to get a photo. If someone is bitten, treat it as a medical emergency and contact emergency services immediately — do not wait to identify the snake or attempt folk remedies. App results are reference information, not medical advice.
Identify it instantly
Found something and not sure what it is? Point your camera with Spotter and get a species identification in seconds — with detailed reference info and species notes.