Overview
Louisiana's bayous, swamps, and bottomland forests support around 40 snake species, most of them harmless. Seven are venomous, and only a few are commonly encountered near people.
Always identify from a distance — a photo from several feet away is safer and just as effective. This guide covers the snakes you are most likely to meet in Louisiana.
Key Species to Know
Rough Green Snake
Opheodrys aestivus
A slim, bright-green, harmless snake that lives in shrubs and vines, nearly invisible among leaves. Feeds on insects and is completely gentle.
Speckled Kingsnake
Lampropeltis holbrooki
A glossy black non-venomous snake flecked with a yellow speck on nearly every scale, giving a "salt-and-pepper" look. Harmless and eats other snakes, including venomous ones.
Diamondback Water Snake
Nerodia rhombifer
A heavy-bodied non-venomous water snake with a chain-like dark pattern, frequently mistaken for a cottonmouth and needlessly killed. Harmless but will bite if grabbed.
Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
A pit viper with hourglass-shaped chestnut bands over a tan body, camouflaged in leaf litter. Venomous but generally mild.
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.
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 active much of the year in Louisiana, especially on warm, humid days and evenings.
- Be cautious around water edges, where cottonmouths and harmless water snakes both bask.
- 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.