Overview
Oklahoma sits where eastern forest meets western prairie, giving it around 46 snake species — one of the highest counts in the country. Seven are venomous, but most snakes you meet are harmless and helpful.
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 Oklahoma.
Key Species to Know
Bullsnake
Pituophis catenifer sayi
A large, powerful non-venomous constrictor, tan with dark blotches, that hisses loudly and vibrates its tail to mimic a rattlesnake. All bluff — harmless and a superb rodent-hunter.
Great Plains Rat Snake
Pantherophis emoryi
A slender gray non-venomous snake with brown, dark-edged blotches, sometimes mistaken for a young rattlesnake but with no rattle and a gentle nature.
Coachwhip
Masticophis flagellum
A long, slender, fast-moving non-venomous snake, often two-toned with a braided-whip look to its tail. Curious and quick to flee rather than fight.
Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
A pit viper with hourglass-shaped chestnut bands over a tan body, camouflaged in leaf litter. Venomous but generally mild.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
A heavy-bodied rattlesnake with diamond blotches and a black-and-white "coon tail" before the rattle. Venomous; gives a clear buzzing warning when threatened.
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.
Seasonal Guide
- Snakes are most active in spring and fall, and on warm summer evenings.
- Watch your footing around rock piles, brush, 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.