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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Seasonal Guide
- 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.
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.