Kentucky is home to a diverse array of snake species, both venomous and non-venomous In total, there are 32 snake species found in the state, 4 of which are venomous Understanding the different snakes in Kentucky can help you identify any snakes you encounter and know whether they pose a danger. This comprehensive guide covers all the snakes found in Kentucky, including how to identify them, their habitats, behaviors, and more.
Venomous Snakes in Kentucky
Kentucky has 4 venomous snake species:
Copperhead
The copperhead is Kentucky’s most common venomous snake. It has chestnut brown crossbands shaped like hourglasses down its tan, coppery-brown body. The crossbands are wider at the sides and narrower in the middle of the back. Young copperheads have yellow tail tips.
Copperheads are found throughout much of Kentucky in rocky woodland areas and rock outcroppings. They ambush small rodents, frogs, lizards, and insects Females give birth to live young every other year.
Cottonmouth
Also called water moccasins, cottonmouths are stocky, aquatic pitvipers found in western Kentucky Adults are solid brown/black while juveniles have crossbands When threatened, they often gape and show the white interior of their mouth.
Cottonmouths live in marshes, ponds, and swamps. They eat fish, frogs, small mammals, and other snakes. Females give birth to live young in late summer/fall.
Timber Rattlesnake
The timber rattlesnake is Kentucky’s largest venomous snake, growing over 5 feet long. It has dark chevron crossbands on a grayish-yellow body. A key identifier is its namesake rattle on the tip of its tail.
Timber rattlesnakes live in forested areas with rocky outcrops. They ambush rodents from hiding spots along game trails. Females birth live young every 2-3 years. They are quite docile if left undisturbed.
Pigmy Rattlesnake
The smallest of Kentucky’s pitvipers, pigmy rattlesnakes grow under 2 feet long. They are gray with a rusty dorsal stripe and small rattle on the tail tip. In Kentucky, they are only found in a few far western counties.
Pigmy rattlesnakes live in wooded areas and wetlands. They eat small rodents, lizards, frogs, and insects. Females give birth to live young. Their venom can be highly potent but they rarely bite humans.
Non-Venomous Snakes in Kentucky
The majority of snake species found in Kentucky are non-venomous, including:
Black Rat Snake
One of the state’s largest snakes, black rat snakes can reach 6 feet long. As their name suggests, they are solid black. Young snakes have a grayish pattern. Rat snakes are excellent climbers and helpful to have around barns where they eat mice and rats.
Garter Snake
Common garter snakes have three yellow or white stripes running down their greenish-gray backs. They live near waterbodies where they eat small fish, frogs, slugs, and earthworms. Though mildly venomous, their venom only affects very small prey.
Northern Water Snake
Often mistaken for copperheads, water snakes are non-venomous brownsnakes with or without darker crossbands found near water. They primarily eat fish and amphibians. When threatened, they usually flee to water rather than stand their ground.
Milk Snake
Named for a false myth they suck cow milk, milk snakes have gray/brown scales with red blotches outlined in black down their backs. They are found in barns and farms pursuing their primary prey – mice.
Ringneck Snake
A small, secretive snake with a yellow or cream neck ring, ringneck snakes are found under logs and rocks. Though harmless, they release a foul musk when threatened. They eat invertebrates like slugs and worms.
Racer
Racers are long, slender, solid black snakes with a white chin/throat and faster movements than most snakes. They actively hunt for small vertebrates during the day. Despite their name, they don’t actually constrict prey.
Rough Green Snake
True to their name, rough green snakes have uniformly green scales. They inhabit trees and bushes where they expertly camouflage, eating spiders and insects. They also swim well when needed.
Brown Snake
Small brownsnakes have two rows of tiny dark spots down a light brown back. They are secretive snakes mostly found after heavy rains under debris. Their diet consists of slugs, snails, and worms.
Red-bellied Snake
Red-bellied snakes are brown/black with vivid red-orange undersides. They prefer moist habitats with abundant slugs and worms to eat. Females give live birth to young in summer.
Smooth Earth Snake
As their name suggests, smooth earthsnakes live underground in burrows. They are unmarked grayish-brown with a yellow-white underside. Growing under 1 foot long, they eat invertebrates like earthworms.
Eastern Hognose Snake
Hognose snakes are harmless but famous for their dramatic bluffing behaviors when threatened, including loudly hissing, flatten their necks, and playing dead. Their upturned snout aids in burrowing and finding toads, their favorite prey.
Queensnake
Queensnakes have olive-gray scales with yellow stripes down their underside. They live in clean creeks and streams, feeding almost exclusively on crayfish. Due to this specialized diet, they are susceptible to water pollution and habitat degradation.
Corn Snake
Named for their fondness of rodents that raid corn fields, corn snakes vary from orange to gray with red-orange blotches outlined in black. They are skilled climbers occasionally found on farm buildings or trees eating rodents and birds.
Ribbon Snake
True to their name, ribbon snakes are long and slender with three bright yellow or orange stripes running down their length. They inhabit the edges of ponds and streams where they ambush small amphibians.
Eastern Kingsnake
Eastern kingsnakes are black with white speckling and yellow banding. One of their claims to fame is immunity to venom, allowing them to feed on venomous snakes like copperheads. They constrict their prey.
Brown Watersnake
Brown watersnakes are found all across Kentucky. They are light brown with wide darker brown bands down their back. They are nonvenomous but known for being quick to bite if threatened. In the water, they eat fish, frogs, and crayfish.
Eastern Hog Nose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)
The Hognose Snake. Personally, I think these guys are adorable. Picture via Virgina State Parks.
The hognose is a distinctive looking snake and is easily identifiable by its upturned snout resembling a pig. The colorations vary from yellow through to green with darker splotches along the back and will reach up to three feet in length. It’s sometimes referred to as the ‘puff adder’ or ‘blow viper’ due to its defensive technique of flattening its head and hissing. Although sometimes it will regurgitate its last meal or just play dead.
The Eastern hognose snake is a common, non-venomous snake found throughout the state of Kentucky. It will make its home in various different habitats, from fields to wetlands and forests, although it seems to favor sandy areas along lakes and rivers.
Amphibians feature heavily in this snake’s diet, with toads being considered a delicacy. Toads puff themselves up when threatened to make it harder to be swallowed whole, but the hognose has a specialist weapon to counteract this. They have enlarged teeth at the back of their mouth which are used to deflate the toad making it digestible.
Eastern hognoses are oviparous which means they lay eggs. In late spring the females will lay between 15-25 eggs hidden away underneath boulders or piles of wood.
The hognose snake has some interesting defense mechanisms. They can puff out their throat to look menacing. In addition, they can regurgitate food, smell bad and defecate in order to discourage predators.
They even play dead. When we were kids we called them zombie snakes! The hognose will literally flip itself over and not move.
Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
A cottonmouth snake showing where they got their name. Photo by Greg Schechter
This snake lives in western Kentucky in the Mississippi River and Ohio River delta area. They are a dark color and have a thick body. In Kentucky, we sometimes refer to the cottonmouth as a water moccasin.
If you accidentally startle one, they will often shake the end of their tail even though they don’t have rattles. They may also open their mouths and display their fangs in a warning pose. Their mouth has a whitish color – thus the name cottonmouth.
The cottonmouth snake is closely related to the copperhead snake. However, cottonmouths prefer swampy and wetland areas where the copperhead is an upland forest dweller. That said, I did see a cottonmouth in my creek in Falmouth, KY in 2008. I was able to take a picture and had the snake ID’d at the University of Kentucky.
Cottonmouths and water snakes live in the same areas of the state. Some noticeable characteristics:
- When the cottonmouth snake swims, they keep their head above the water. They often fill their lung with air to give them buoyancy so they float on the water.
- The cottonmouth has a scale behind their eyes that sticks out slightly and obscures the view of the eyes from behind.
- They eat a wide variety of prey including fish, frogs, rodents, and other snakes. Females give birth to live young in the late summer.
- Young cottonmouths have a bright yellow or green tail. They use this to attract prey.
Venomous Snakes of Kentucky
FAQ
Are there any poisonous snakes in Kentucky?
Kentucky’s venomous snakes are the copperhead, cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake, and pigmy rattlesnake. All four species belong to a group of snakes called pit vipers.
How to identify snakes in Kentucky?
- Pupil. In Kentucky, the black part in the center of the eye (pupil) of harmless snakes is round. …
- Head Shape. Venomous snakes usually have a triangular (wide at the back and attached to a narrow neck) or ‘spade-shaped’ head. …
- Kentucky’s snake species exhibit wide variability in body shape.
What are the most snake-infested lakes in Kentucky?
- Lake Barkley. This lake is located near Land Between The Lakes and offers amazing scenic views of the forest, lakes, rolling hills, and more. …
- Kentucky Lake. …
- Lake Cumberland. …
- Rough River Lake. …
- Barren River Lake. …
- Green River Lake.
Are there water moccasins in KY?
Of the 33 snake species found in Kentucky, only four are venomous. Venomous snakes include the Copperhead, Western Cottonmouth (water moccasin), Timber Rattlesnake, and Pigmy Rattlesnake.
What kind of snakes live in Kentucky?
Eadstern Garter snakes are one of the most common snakes inhabiting Kentucky and can be found in grassy woodlands, hillsides, forests, wetlands, suburban areas and parks. These snakes love basking in the sun and will flee under a rock if frightened. Brown, to olive gray in color, these snakes are slender and medium sized.
Are snakes venomous in Kentucky?
To be clear, most snakes in Kentucky aren’t venomous and pose no threat to humans. Venomous animals have to bite or sting you to do harm, whereas poison does harm once it is ingested. Even if you are bitten by a venomous snake, as rare as that is, there’s a good chance you got a “dry bite” that doesn’t include venom.
What if you find a brown snake in Kentucky?
For example, if you find a brown snake in Kentucky, it could be many of the species within the state. You’re much more likely to reach a correct identification when also considering the length, head, pupil shape, and where you found the snake. There are only four venomous, often mislabeled as poisonous, snakes in Kentucky.