Overview
Georgia is home to around 46 snake species across its mountains, piedmont, and coastal plain — the great majority harmless and beneficial. Six are venomous, and knowing the handful you might actually meet takes much of the worry out of time outdoors.
Always identify from a distance: a photo from several feet away is safer and just as effective as a close look. This guide covers the snakes you are most likely to encounter in Georgia yards, woods, and wetlands.
Key Species to Know
Gray Rat Snake
Pantherophis spiloides
A large, non-venomous constrictor with dark blotches on a gray body, and an excellent climber often found near barns and attics hunting rodents. Harmless but will rattle its tail and bluff when cornered.
Southern Black Racer
Coluber constrictor priapus
A sleek, fast, solid-black non-venomous snake with a pale chin, common in yards and field edges. Nervous and quick to flee; harmless despite its speed.
Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
A pit viper with hourglass-shaped chestnut bands over a tan body, blending superbly into leaf litter. Venomous but generally mild; relies on camouflage and often stays still.
Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus
A thick-bodied semi-aquatic pit viper, dark with a pale-lined face, that gapes to show a white "cotton" mouth when threatened. Venomous; often confused with harmless water snakes.
Eastern Coral Snake
Micrurus fulvius
A small, secretive snake ringed in red, yellow, and black, with the red and yellow bands touching. Venomous, but shy and rarely seen; bites are uncommon.
Eastern Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
A small, harmless snake with three pale stripes running the length of a dark body. One of the most common yard snakes; gentle and beneficial.
Seasonal Guide
- Snakes are most active in spring and fall, and on warm evenings in summer.
- Be cautious around water edges, leaf litter, and woodpiles, and reach only where you can see.
- Many harmless water snakes are killed out of fear — identify from a distance before assuming the worst.
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.