FG-0019 · Wildlife · 6 species
Identifying Snakes in North Carolina
By Derek Gauger · Updated
Overview
North Carolina has around 37 snake species spread from the mountains to the coast, and only six are venomous. The copperhead is by far the most commonly encountered venomous snake, while most snakes you meet are harmless and beneficial.
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 see in North Carolina yards, woods, and waterways.
Key species to know
FG-0019.01
Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
A pit viper with hourglass-shaped chestnut bands over a tan body, blending superbly into leaf litter. Venomous but generally mild; the state's most common venomous snake, and often stays still relying on camouflage.
Habitat: Wooded hillsides, creek bottoms, and suburban edges statewide.
Venomous. Watch where you step and reach in leaf litter and woodpiles.
FG-0019.02
Eastern 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; found mainly in the eastern part of the state.
Habitat: Swamps, blackwater streams, and coastal-plain wetlands.
Venomous. Give a wide berth to any thick-bodied snake near water and never handle it.
FG-0019.03
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
A large rattlesnake with dark chevron bands across a tan or gray body and a black tail. Venomous but generally calm; often gives a clear buzzing warning before anything else.
Habitat: Mountain forests, rocky slopes, and remote piedmont and coastal woodlands.
Venomous. Keep well back and never try to handle it — give it space to retreat.
FG-0019.04
Eastern Rat Snake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
A large, non-venomous constrictor, black as an adult with a paler chin and belly, and a strong climber. Harmless but will rattle its tail and bluff when cornered.
Habitat: Woodlands, farmland, and around buildings statewide.
FG-0019.05
Eastern Kingsnake
Lampropeltis getula
A glossy black non-venomous snake with thin pale chain-link bands. Harmless to people and known for preying on other snakes, including venomous ones.
Habitat: Woodland edges, fields, and wetland margins across the state.
FG-0019.06
Northern Water Snake
Nerodia sipedon
A non-venomous water snake with dark crossbands, frequently mistaken for a cottonmouth and needlessly killed. Flattens its body and may bite defensively when cornered, but is harmless.
Habitat: Ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams, especially in the piedmont and mountains.
Through the seasons
- Snakes are most active in spring and fall, and on warm evenings in summer.
- Be cautious around water edges, rock outcrops, and leaf litter, and reach only where you can see.
- Many harmless water snakes are killed out of fear — identify from a distance before assuming the worst.
Questions
- What venomous snakes live in North Carolina?
- North Carolina has six venomous species: the copperhead, cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake, and eastern coral snake. The copperhead is responsible for the large majority of bites.
- Is that snake in my yard dangerous?
- Most North Carolina yard snakes — rat snakes, kingsnakes, and garter snakes — are harmless. Photograph it from a safe distance and use an app like Spotter to identify it rather than approaching.
From Field Notes
- Is That a Cottonmouth or a Harmless Water Snake? How to Tell Them Apart Safely
- What Is the Snake That Plays Dead and Flattens Like a Cobra? Meet the Eastern Hognose
- What Is the Big Black Snake in My Yard? Identifying Rat Snakes and Black Racers
- Is That a Copperhead? How to Identify the Venomous Snake (Safely)
Not sure what you found?
Take a photo with Spotter for the name, field marks, look-alikes and safety notes in seconds.
In this guide
- Species
- 6
- Region
- North Carolina