Virginia Snakes Identification: Species Catalog & Safety Guide

Snakes aren’t as prevalent in Virginia compared to other areas of the US, but there’s still a fair bit of diversity among the species you may encounter.

This guide has everything you need to know to identify them all.

From the venomous snakes like the water moccasins to the harmless water snakes, the variety of Virginia snakes is astounding.

Some species, like corn snakes and milk snakes, have even become popular pets.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at:

• Snake identification
• Which snakes live in Virginia
• How to behave when you encounter a snake
• Which venomous snake species live in the region

We’ll also give you a list of useful resources at the end of the article.

Virginia Snakes Identification Basics

When trying to identify a snake, there are a few main factors to look at:

• Size
• Habitat
• Location
• Coloration
• Head and eye shape

Typically, one of these characteristics alone isn’t enough to reach a conclusion.

However, when you bring together all your different observations, you can usually make an accurate conclusion.

For example, any snake over six feet in length can only be one of a handful of species in this state.

If it has the slit-shaped pupils and broad head of the pit vipers, then it’s almost definitely one of the three venomous species.

However, if it has a long, narrower head, then it’s more likely to be a North American Racer.

Perhaps you couldn’t get close enough to see the head. If you saw a pitch black snake in Virginia, then it probably wasn’t a pit viper.

Finally, most snakes have a preferred habitat type. By taking note of where you saw the snake, you can look for snakes that prefer that habitat.

You can also check to see which snakes have a range that covers that region.

If you’re looking for a snake found in the South of the state, you can rule out snakes in Northern Virginia that don’t come as far down.

The key to snake identification is to observe as much as possible then look for a snake that matches all the traits you’ve observed.

Quickly Identifying a Venomous Snake

Since all the venomous snake species in Virginia are pit vipers, you can identify them with relative ease.

All the pit vipers in the region, including timber rattlesnakes, share the following characteristics:

• Bulky, thick bodies
• Elliptical, slit-shaped pupils
• Broad, slightly flattened heads

In the case of the Timber rattlesnakes, the last scales of the tail are also modified to form a “rattle”. By rubbing these scales together, the snake can give a warning rattle.

The hog-nosed snakes are the only snake at risk of being confused for pit vipers.

However, they have several distinguishing features:

• A flattened snout reminiscent of a pig’s nose
• A broad, upturned mouth that looks rather frog-like
• A slightly flattened neck, which they flatten further when upset

Types of Snakes in Virginia

According to the Virginia Herpetological Society’s List, there are around 31 types of snakes in Virginia.

Most of the Virginia snakes belong to one of the following major groupings:

Pit Vipers

• • Timber Rattlesnake – Crotalus horridus
  • Eastern Copperhead – Agkistrodon contortrix
  • Northern Cottonmouth – Agkistrodon piscivorus

Mudsnakes

• • Mudsnake – Farancia abacura
  • Rainbow Snake – Farancia erytrogramma

Kingsnakes and Milk Snakes

• • Scarlet Kingsnake – Lampropeltis elapsoides
  • Eastern Milksnake – Lampropeltis triangulum
  • Eastern Kingsnake – Lampropeltis getula
  • Eastern Black Kingsnake – Lampropeltis nigra
  • Northern Mole Kingsnake – Lampropeltis rhombomaculata

Watersnakes

• • Brown Watersnake – Nerodia taxispilota
  • Common Watersnake – Nerodia sipedon
  • Plain-bellied Watersnake – Nerodia erythrogaster

Greensnakes

• • Rough Greensnake – Opheodrys aestivus
  • Smooth Greensnake – Opheodrys vernalis

Ratsnakes

• • Red Cornsnake – Pantherophis guttatus
  • Eastern Ratsnake – Pantherophis alleghaniensis

Brown snakes

• • Red-bellied Snake – Storeria occipitomaculata
  • Dekay’s Brownsnake – Storeria dekayi

Garter snakes

• • Ribbon Snake – Thamnophis saurita
  • Common Garter Snake – Thamnophis sirtalis

The other snakes found in the region are single representatives of their genera. They include:

• Queensnake – Regina septemvittata
• Scarletsnake – Cemophora coccinea
• Rough Earthsnake – Haldea striatula
• Ring-necked Snake – Diadophis punctatus
• Northern Pinesnake – Pituophis melanoleucus
• Eastern Worm Snake – Carphophis amoenus
• North American Racer – Coluber constrictor
• Eastern Hognose Snake – Heterodon platirhinos
• Eastern Smooth Earthsnake – Virginia valeriae
• Eastern Glossy Swampsnake – Liodytes rigida rigida
• Southeastern Crowned Snake – Tantilla coronata

Most Common Snakes in Virginia

We’ve combed websites like iNaturalist to find out which snakes citizens spot most regularly. All of these snakes are native to Virginia.

Here are the most common snakes in Virginia:

1. Common Watersnake – Nerodia sipedon
2. Eastern Ratsnake – Pantherophis alleghaniensis
3. Common Garter Snake – Thamnophis sirtalis
4. Dekay’s Brownsnake – Storeria dekayi
5. Eastern Worm Snake – Carphophis amoenus
6. Ring-necked Snake – Diadophis punctatus
7. Eastern Copperhead – Agkistrodon contortrix
8. North American Racer – Coluber constrictor
9. Rough Greensnake – Opheodrys aestivus
10. Timber Rattlesnake – Crotalus horridus

Since we’ve discussed some of these species elsewhere, we won’t discuss all of these species in detail here.

In some instances, where multiple species occur in the region, we’ll take a look at the group as a whole.

Water Snakes in Virginia

The water snakes in Virginia are a large group of non-venomous snakes that are common around water-rich habitats.

Rat and Corn Snakes in Virginia

Rat and corn snakes are harmless species who take well to living around humans. Several of the species are popular pets, thanks to their placid personalities.

They can look similar to the king snake in Virginia.

Brown and Rainbow Snakes in Virginia

The rainbow snake and brown snake of Virginia are peaceful creatures that like to live in moist wooded areas. They’re beautiful animals that don’t reach large sizes.

Garter Snakes in Virginia

Garter snakes are common visitors throughout the United States. Thanks to their generalist natures and their climbing habits, they often make their ways into homes.

Venomous Snakes in Virginia

Thanks to its much cooler climate, Virginia has far fewer venomous snakes than some of the other states.

The following venomous snake species all occur in Virginia:

• Timber Rattlesnake – Crotalus horridus
• Eastern Copperhead – Agkistrodon contortrix
• Northern Cottonmouth – Agkistrodon piscivorus

All three of these snakes are pit vipers, but only one is a rattlesnake.

Timber Rattlesnakes in Virginia

The Timber rattlesnake is the only rattlesnake in the state. Virginia has plenty of woods and forests, so it makes sense that this snake would be present here.

Eastern Copperhead – Agkistrodon contortrix

The Eastern copperhead snake in Virginia loves to live near water in forested regions. Its rich russet brown coloration helps it blend into the leaf litter of this habitat type.

Northern Cottonmouth – Agkistrodon piscivorus

The Northern cottonmouth gets its name from the bright white interior of its mouth.

Non-Venomous Snakes in Virginia

In Virginia, most species are non-venomous snakes. Only three of the 31 Virginia snake species are venomous.

From milk snakes to the black rat snake in Virginia, the variety is incredible.

We’ll give you a general overview of those species you’re most likely to encounter.

Eastern Smooth Earthsnake – Virginia valeriae

The Eastern smooth earthsnake is remarkably similar to the rough earthsnake, although they aren’t closely related.

The smooth earthsnake has much smoother scales than the rough earthsnake.

Rough Earthsnake – Haldea striatula

The rough earthsnake is a terrestrial species that’s a similar color to soil.

Queensnake – Regina septemvittata

The queensnake is a large, robust snake that has an attitude to match.

Scarletsnake – Cemophora coccinea

The scarletsnake is a shocking-looking snake with bright colors and many white bands.

Despite the similarities to the coral snake, this snake is entirely harmless.

Iconic Virginia Snake Species

If you were to construct a bucket list of iconic Virginia snake species, what would be on it? Below, we’ll look at some of our favorite species in this region.

Eastern Worm Snake – Carphophis amoenus

It’s easy to see where this snake gets its name. With its worm-like shape, and love of burrowing, it truly looks like a worm.

Ring-necked Snake – Diadophis punctatus

The ring-necked snake has an impressive bright-colored underside which it uses as part of a threat display.

Although the snake is harmless, the bright colors convince predators otherwise.

North American Racer – Coluber constrictor

The North American racer is one of the longest snakes on the continent. Its long body and fast movements are always a sight to behold.

Rough Greensnake – Opheodrys aestivus

The rough greensnake is a common visitor to gardens in Virginia. These snakes will happily abide anywhere there’s vegetation.

What You Need to Know

Most of the snakes in Virginia are harmless species like the rat snake.

There are a few key things that you need to know if you want to maintain a proper view of the snakes in your region:

• Snakes aren’t out to get you
• Snakes view human beings as predators
• Not even the largest snakes think you’re food
• If you leave snakes alone, they won’t chase or try to hurt you

If you keep these things in mind and treat snakes with respect, you’re unlikely to ever have an unpleasant experience with one.

Coexisting With Virginia Snakes

As we mentioned above, the key to coexisting with snakes is to treat them with respect.

Unfortunately, many people maintain an unhealthy fear of snakes rather than a healthy level of caution and respect.

If you want to get along with snakes, it’s a good idea to go for a few courses where you can get educated about what they are and how they live.

In the following sections, we’ll investigate how to protect yourself and your loved ones.

We’ll also provide some useful resources in case you run into trouble or want to learn more about these wonderful creatures.

About Venomous Snakes

Most snakes, like the rat snake and the Northern black racer, try to get away from approaching humans.

Many venomous snakes will do the same. Unfortunately, all the venomous snakes in Virginia are pit vipers.

Rather than running away, pit vipers sit still and rely on their camouflage to protect them.

In densely wooded areas, this can make them easy to step on. Fortunately, most snakes will try to scare you off before they bite.

Most snake bites are the result of people not taking the hint. If you keep molesting a snake, it will bite you sooner or later.

Very few people die as a result of venomous snake bites in the US. Most major medical centers carry antivenom and can treat bite wounds.

Treading Carefully in Snake Habitat

One of the most essential things to do to protect yourself from snakes is to walk carefully when entering potential snake habitats.

As we mentioned before, pit vipers are ambush predators that rely on camouflage.

The easiest way to have a run-in with one is to step on it by accident. Here are our top five tips to protect you and your loved ones:

1. Wear sturdy boots when out walking.
2. Stick to well-marked hiking and jogging trails.
3. Keep your pet on a leash at all times when you go hiking.
4. Stay away from paths and trails that are littered with leaves.
5. If you have to enter overgrown paths or areas, use a hiking cane to check every step.

If You Encounter a Snake

If you encounter a snake, the chances are that it’s a harmless species.

Back away from the snake if it seems angry. If not, make sure there’s at least a foot to 1.5 feet of space between you and the snake.

You can admire and observe it from this safe and respectful distance. NEVER poke, prod, or try to move a snake.

As long as it’s not in a place where it’s likely to hurt someone, leave it be. Remember that snake relocation is illegal in Virginia.

If you call in a snake to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the wildlife trappers will be forced to kill it.

When to Call for Help

You should only call for help if a snake has bitten you, someone else, or one of your pets.

The only exception to this is if the snake is in a location where it’s likely to hurt someone.

Even if a non-venomous species bites you, you can have an allergic reaction to the proteins in its saliva.

It’s best to get checked out and get a tetanus shot whenever a snake bites you.

Useful Resources

We’ve compiled a list of our favorite resources for dealing with snakes and snake-related problems.

Emergency Poisoning Advice

If you or your pet gets bitten by a snake, you can phone one of the following numbers:

• ASPCA Poisoning Hotline: 1-888-426-4435
• Poison Control Center’s national hotline: 1-800-222-1222

Snake Relocation Services

If you find a snake that’s in an area from which it needs to be relocated, try the following resources:

• Virginia Nuisance Wildlife Trappers
• The Free Snake Relocation Directory Facebook group

Only contact trappers if the snake absolutely must be removed, because they will kill the animal.

Educational Resources

iNaturalist is an excellent website for learning how to identify regional wildlife.

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources offers plenty of excellent hints and tips to help you deal with wildlife.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this article about the snakes of Virginia. Don’t forget to check out our guide to the snakes of Wisconsin, Louisiana, Hawaii, South Carolina, Arizona, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Missouri, Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee. 

Which of the Virginia snakes is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.