14 Pennsylvania Snakes You Should Know About – Images & Safety Guide

If you live in Pennsylvania or plan to visit it soon, it’s a good idea to learn about the local wildlife, especially where snakes are concerned. There are many snakes in Pennsylvania, and luckily most of them are non-poisonous. However, there are a few you need to look out for, so keep reading while we list the snakes you are likely to see in Pennsylvania and which ones are dangerous to humans.

14 Snakes Found in Pennsylvania

1. Northern Copperhead

Species:	Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen
Longevity:	25 years
Good to own as a pet?:	Yes
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	19 – 38  inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Copperhead is one of the poisonous snakes you can find in Pennsylvania, but the venom is not very toxic, and a bite rarely results in death, even if left untreated. It has a thick body with a copper-colored head and a reddish-brown body. The females are usually larger than the males, and the average size is typically longer than 2 feet.

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2. Timber Rattlesnake

Species:	Crotalus horridus
Longevity:	16 – 22 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	36 – 60 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

There are two varieties of Timber Rattlesnake in Pennsylvania, and the only difference between them is their color. One is light-colored, while the other is dark. Both are highly toxic, and we recommend avoiding them at all costs. These snakes have a distinct head that’s connected to the body with a thinner neck. It has vertical pupils and deep-set pits between the eyes and nostrils.

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3. Eastern Massasauga

Species:	Sistrurus c. catenatus
Longevity:	20 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	20 – 30 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Eastern Massasauga prefers swamps, marshes, and other areas with poorly drained soil and plenty of vegetation. It’s a type of rattlesnake and is an endangered species that you are unlikely to find outside its current range in western Pennsylvania. If you do find one, we recommend keeping your distance from this venomous snake.

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4. Eastern Worm Snake

Species:	Sistrurus c. catenatus
Longevity:	4 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	4 – 9 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Eastern Worm Snake is a hard-to-find species that exists in many Pennsylvania counties, particularly the southern part. It’s small and slender enough to resemble an earthworm, which is where it gets its name. These snakes pose no threat to humans.

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5. Kirtland’s Snake

Species:	Sistrurus c. catenatus
Longevity:	8 – 9 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	14 – 25 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Kirtland’s Snake is another hard-to-find non-venomous snake that you can find in parts of Pennsylvania. It typically lives in crawfish holes or human debris. Unfortunately, you can only find it in a few counties of western Pa.

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6. Northern Racer

Species:	Coluber constrictor constrictor
Longevity:	10 years
Good to own as a pet?:	Yes
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	36 – 60 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Northern Racer is a rather large dark-colored snake that you can find all over Pennsylvania. It has large eyes with round pupils and prefers to live in rock formations and under logs. This snake is not dangerous to humans.

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7. Northern Ring-Necked Snake

Species:	Diadophis punctatus edwardsii
Longevity:	20 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	12 – 15 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Northern Ring-Necked Snake is another dark-colored snake that, as you may have guessed, has a light-colored ring around its neck. It has smooth scales, is non-venomous, and is quite common in Pennsylvania. You can find them in every county.

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8. Eastern Milk Snake

Species:	Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum
Longevity:	20 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	24 – 52 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Eastern Milk Snake is often confused with the northern Copperhead, but this snake is not venomous and will not harm you. It has a small blunt head and smooth scales. It’s easy to find anywhere in Pennsylvania.

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9. Northern Water Snake

Species:	Nerodia sipedon sipedon
Longevity:	9 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	24 – 55 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Northern Water Snake is a large snake that is sometimes mistaken for the Water Moccasin due to its preference for lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. However, these snakes are not poisonous and will not harm humans.

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10. Northern Rough Green Snake

Species:	Opheodrys aestivus
Longevity:	5 – 8 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	22 – 32 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Northern Rough Green Snake is a thin and brightly colored snake found in moist habitats like the banks of rivers and streams. You can only see it in a few counties of western and southern Pa, so it’s worth seeking out if you are in the area.

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11. Smooth Green Snake

Species:	Opheodrys vernalis
Longevity:	6 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	14 – 20 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Smooth Green Snake is similar to the Northern Rough Green Snake but with smooth scales and large black eyes. It’s a non-venomous snake that you will find in low-lying vegetation and forest clearings all over Pennsylvania except the extreme southeastern counties.

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12. Eastern Rat Snake

Species:	Pantherophis alleghaniensis
Longevity:	20+ years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	40 – 101 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Eastern Rat Snake is a large snake that can often reach six feet in length. It’s not venomous, but its imposing size often strikes fear into humans that encounter it. You can find these large black snakes all over Pennsylvania.

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13. Queen Snake

Species:	Regina septemvittata
Longevity:	19 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	14 – 23 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Queen Snake is a water snake that rarely ventures far from a river or stream. It’s usually an olive-brown to brown color, and you can find it all over western and southern Pennsylvania. These snakes pose no danger to humans.

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14. Eastern Garter Snake

Species:	Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
Longevity:	10 years
Good to own as a pet?:	No
Legal to own?:	Yes
Adult size:	20 – 28 inches
Diet:	Carnivorous

The Eastern Garter Snake is one of the easiest snakes to find in Pennsylvania. It prefers cluttered areas where it can easily hide, but it isn’t picky about the specifics and is just as happy in a trash dump as it is on a riverbank. It’s not dangerous to humans, and it enjoys the moist soil of a garden.

Venomous Snakes in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, you can find three poisonous snakes: the Northern Copperhead, the Timber Rattlesnake, and the Eastern Massasauga. Of these three, the only one likely to pose any real threat is the Timber Rattlesnake because of its wide distribution and a dangerous bite.  The Northern Copperhead is common, but its venom is weak and rarely results in death, while the Eastern Massasauga is extremely rare and only found in a few counties of western PA.

Water Snakes in Pennsylvania

There are a few water snakes in Pennsylvania, including the Queen Snake and the Northern Water Snake. Neither of these snakes is venomous, and there is no need for concern if you see one while you are swimming.

Conclusion

As you can see, quite a few snakes reside in Pennsylvania and even a few poisonous ones, so always use extreme caution when walking near large rock piles or downed trees. A few of the snakes on this list make great pets, including the Northern Racer and Northern Copperhead (for experienced owners), but we recommend always purchasing captive-bred pets from a professional breeder, so you don’t endanger the natural habitat.

We hope you have enjoyed reading over this list and found a few species you hadn’t heard of before. If we have helped answer your questions, please share this list of snakes found in Pennsylvania on Facebook and Twitter.

Learn about the snakes in different regions with one of these related posts:

• 16 Snakes Found in Minnesota (With Pictures)
• 7 Snakes Found in Kentucky (With Pictures)
• 44 Snakes Found in Oklahoma (With Pictures)