A minor league baseball team in Wisconsin is named after a snake — the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers — so there has to be plenty of those slithering creatures around us, right?
While snakes arent as abundant in Wisconsin as they are in Texas or Arizona, dont be surprised if you encounter one when youre out hiking and camping this summer.
Wisconsin is home to a diverse array of snake species, ranging from harmless garden snakes to venomous rattlesnakes. In total, there are 21 different snake species that can be found slithering through the forests, prairies, wetlands and backyards of the Badger State.
For both novice and expert herpetologists alike, it can be tricky to identify the different snakes that inhabit Wisconsin. To help make things easier, here is a complete guide covering all the snake species found in the state
Overview of Snakes in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s snake population consists of 3 main groups:
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Non-venomous snakes – These account for the majority of snakes in the state, with 15 different species. They kill prey by constricting it and are not harmful to humans.
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Mildly venomous snakes – 2 species have venom that is not considered medically significant to humans. They include the Eastern Hognose Snake and Northern Watersnake.
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Highly venomous snakes – Wisconsin has 2 species of venomous pit vipers – the Timber Rattlesnake and Eastern Massasauga. Their bite requires prompt medical attention.
In terms of abundance, the Common Gartersnake is by far the most widespread snake However, many harmless species have suffered declining numbers due to persecution and habitat loss. Of Wisconsin’s 21 snake species, 13 are listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern
Below is a complete list of all the snake species found in Wisconsin split into non-venomous mildly venomous and highly venomous
Non-Venomous Snakes
1. Common Gartersnake
The Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is Wisconsin’s most common and familiar snake. They have a brown or greenish base color with three yellow or light stripes running down the length of the body.
Preferred Habitats: Virtually anywhere with vegetation cover – backyards, parks, meadows, marshes.
Total Length: 18-26 inches.
Status: Abundant
2. Plains Gartersnake
The Plains Gartersnake (Thamnophis radix) is very similar looking to the Common Gartersnake but has bright orange-red stripes bordered by black.
Preferred Habitats: Prairies, meadows, grasslands.
Total Length: 18-42 inches.
Status: Special Concern.
3. Butler’s Gartersnake
Butler’s Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri) is olive green with three yellow dorsal stripes outlined in black.
Preferred Habitats: Prairies, meadows, marshes.
Total Length: 14-26 inches.
Status: Special Concern.
4. Eastern Ribbonsnake
The Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis saurita) has three yellow or light green stripes running down a brown/gray body.
Preferred Habitats: Near ponds, marshes and streams.
Total Length: Up to 47 inches.
Status: Endangered.
5. Common Watersnake
The Common Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) has a brown or reddish-brown body with dark brown blotches.
Preferred Habitats: Lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands.
Total Length: 24-55 inches.
Status: Common.
6. Red-bellied Snake
The Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) is gray or brown with a distinctive red belly.
Preferred Habitats: Forests, meadows, marshes.
Total Length: 7-10 inches.
Status: Common.
7. Dekay’s Brownsnake
Dekay’s Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi) is brown or gray with a white underbelly.
Preferred Habitats: Woodlands, fields, suburbs.
Total Length: 7-13 inches.
Status: Common.
8. Smooth Greensnake
The Smooth Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis) is bright green in color with a white or yellow underbelly.
Preferred Habitats: Overgrown fields, meadows, woodland edges.
Total Length: 14-22 inches.
Status: Common.
9. Northern Ringneck Snake
The Northern Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii) is black with a distinct yellow or orange neck ring.
Preferred Habitats: Moist forests and meadows.
Total Length: 7-15 inches.
Status: Common.
10. Prairie Ringneck Snake
The Prairie Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus arnyi) has a brown back and bright red-orange-yellow belly.
Preferred Habitats: Prairies, grasslands, meadows.
Total Length: 7-15 inches.
Status: Special Concern.
11. Eastern Foxsnake
The Eastern Foxsnake (Pantherophis vulpinus) has a yellowish or light brown body with dark brown blotches.
Preferred Habitats: Prairies, meadows, farmland, woodland edges.
Total Length: 30-60 inches.
Status: Common.
12. North American Racer
The North American Racer (Coluber constrictor) is solid black in adulthood. Young ones are gray with brown blotches.
Preferred Habitats: Grasslands, farmland, woodland edges, wetlands.
Total Length: 20-55 inches.
Status: Special Concern.
13. Gray Ratsnake
The Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides) has a gray body with dark blotches and a white chin/throat.
Preferred Habitats: Woodlands, forest edges.
Total Length: 36-72 inches.
Status: Special Concern.
14. Lined Snake
The Lined Snake (Tropidoclonion lineatum) is brown or gray with a yellow stripe on each side.
Preferred Habitats: Sandy soils, meadows, disturbed areas.
Total Length: 7-13 inches.
Status: Special Concern.
15. Eastern Milksnake
The Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum) has a gray/tan body with red-brown blotches outlined in black.
Preferred Habitats: Fields, meadows, rocky areas, suburbs.
Total Length: 14-52 inches.
Status: Common.
Mildly Venomous Snakes
16. Northern Watersnake
The Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) has a brown or gray body with bands or blotches.
Preferred Habitats: Lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands.
Total Length: 24-55 inches.
Status: Common.
17. Eastern Hognose Snake
The Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) varies in color but has a distinctive upturned nose.
Preferred Habitats: Sandy fields, prairies, pine barrens.
Total Length: 18-33 inches.
Status: Common.
Highly Venomous Snakes
18. Timber Rattlesnake
The Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) has yellow and black bands with a thick black tail.
Preferred Habitats: Upland forests and woodlands.
Total Length: 36-60 inches.
Status: Special Concern.
19. Eastern Massasauga
The Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is gray/brown with rounded dark blotches down the back.
Preferred Habitats: Wetlands, marshes, floodplain woods.
Total Length: 16-32 inches.
Status: Endangered.
Snake Identification Tips
Identifying snakes in Wisconsin can be tricky, even for experts. Here are some tips:
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Look at the snake’s head shape – pit vipers like rattlesnakes have a distinctive triangular head.
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Check for the rattle – if you can see or hear one, it’s definitely a rattlesnake.
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Note the eye shape – venomous snakes like rattlesnakes have slit-shaped pupils while non-venomous snakes have round pupils.
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Look for key markings – e.g. the reddish stripes on gartersnakes or blotched pattern on watersnakes.
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Consider the body shape – does it have a thick, heavyset body or is it long and slender?
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Be aware of behavior – non-venomous snakes often vibrate their tails rapidly when threatened whereas rattlesnakes make a buzzing sound.
If you are ever unsure about a snake encounter, keep your distance and contact local wildlife authorities for help identifying the species. With over 20 different snakes found across Wisconsin, being able to confidently tell them apart takes knowledge and experience.
Snake Habitats in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s diverse landscape provides excellent habitat for snakes. Here are some of the common places to find different snake species:
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Forests and woodlands: Timber rattlesnakes, gray ratsnakes, northern ringneck snakes, lined snakes.
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Prairies and meadows: Gartersnakes, foxsnakes, racers, hognose snakes, plains gartersnakes.
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Wetlands and marshes: Watersnakes, eastern ribbonsnakes, massasauga rattlesnakes.
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Lakes, rivers and streams: Common watersnakes, eastern ribbonsnakes.
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Farmland and fields: Foxsnakes, racers, milksnakes, prairie ringneck snakes.
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Rocky areas: Milksnakes, smooth greensnakes, lined snakes.
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Suburban parks, yards and gardens: Gartersnakes, redbelly snakes, dekay’s brownsnakes, milksnakes.
What To Do If Bitten by a Venomous Snake
While snake bites are rare in Wisconsin, you should seek prompt medical treatment if bitten by one of the state’s two venomous rattlesnake species – the massasauga and timber rattlesnake. Here are some steps to follow:
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Stay calm and move away slowly from the snake to avoid being bitten again. Do not make any sudden movements.
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Note the appearance of the snake if it is safe to do so without sustaining another bite. This will help with identification and treatment.
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Remove any jewelry or tight clothing near the bite as the area will likely swell. Do not apply a tourniquet.
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Wash the bite gently with soap and water if possible. Do not try to cut or suck out the venom.
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Immobilize the bitten limb and keep it below heart level to slow venom flow through lymph system.
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Seek medical help immediately – call 911 or emergency services for transport to the nearest hospital. Bring the dead snake if you were able to kill it safely for identification.
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Monitor bite victim for signs of shock such as paleness, sweating, faintness, weakness, rapid pulse and breathing.
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Do not use traditional first aid treatments like compression bandages or tourniquets which can make things worse.
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Follow doctor’s orders if antivenom treatment is recommended. Pain medication and antibiotics may also be prescribed.
Snake bite deaths are extremely rare in Wisconsin if you seek prompt medical care. Do not take any risks with venomous snake bites – getting to a hospital quickly can save your life.
Snake Conservation in Wisconsin
Many of Wisconsin’s snake species are declining due to habitat destruction, persecution by humans, road mortalities and disease. 3 are listed as endangered and 10 as special concern or threatened.
Here are some ways you can help conservation efforts for Wisconsin snakes:
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Learn how to identify snakes correctly so venomous ones are not killed unnecessarily. Many harmless snake killings occur due to mistaken identity.
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Avoid disturbing natural areas where snakes live during spring and winter when they are more vulnerable.
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Drive carefully on roads through snake habitats like forests and wetlands.
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Keep yards wildlife friendly with rock piles, meadow gardens and brush piles for snakes.
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Support wetland restoration and protection programs to create aquatic snake habitats.
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Join citizen science projects to monitor local snake populations over time.
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Report any sightings of rare, endangered or venomous snake species to wildlife officials.
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Follow fishing and boating regulations in sensitive snake habitats like wetlands.
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Keep pet cats indoors so they do not prey on snakes and other reptiles.
With responsible coexistence from humans, Wisconsin’s snakes have a greater chance of thriving for future generations. They play vital roles controlling pests, cycling nutrients and indicators of local environmental health that many overlook but that should be celebrated.
Where are snakes found in Wisconsin?
Snakes are all over the state, including in large cities. For example, the butlers garter snake, which is a special concern species in Wisconsin, has habitats in southern Wisconsin, including in Milwaukee County. These snakes reside in wetland habitats or semi-open canopy upland habitats, such as prairies, old fields and weedy vacant lots.
Then there are the eastern hog-nosed snakes, which can be found in nearly every county. Habitats include bracken grassland, oak savanna and sand prairies.
Another example of a special concern snake species is the western wormsnake, which is only in southwest Grant County. These snakes prefer to stay in bluff prairies, and adjacent savannas and open woodland. They also spend most of their time under partially embedded rocks or underground.
The queensnake, which is listed as endangered in Wisconsin, prefers clear warm-water streams and small rivers and is found in multiple southern counties.
What is the most common snake in Wisconsin?
The common garter snake is most populous in Wisconsin, the DNR notes. Its in every county of the state and they are heavily populated in forest and woodlot edges and rely on open canopy wetlands during the winter.
You may see a group together, as well. These non-venomous snakes often “den” together in large numbers, the DNR says. The snakes, which vary in color pattern, have eight yellow stripes across the length of their body. They range in size from 17 inches to 26 inches.
Hunting For Huge SNAKES in Wisconsin!
FAQ
Are there any poisonous snakes in Wisconsin?
Did you know that there are as many as 21 kinds of snakes in Wisconsin? Wow, that’s a lot! Only two of these snakes are venomous, the timber rattlesnake and the eastern massasauga. They are found only in specific habitats in the the southwestern part of the state.
Do we have copperheads in Wisconsin?
Copperheads do not live in or near Wisconsin.
What is Wisconsin’s largest snake?
- How to identify them. Gophersnakes are the longest and heaviest snakes in Wisconsin. …
- Where they live. Gophersnakes live along the western part of the state in sand prairies, oak savannas, and pine and oak barrens.
- What they eat. …
- Did you know?
What is the most common backyard snake?
- 1. Rat Snakes. Rat snakes come from the Colubridae snake family. …
- Garter Snakes. Garter snakes are small to medium-sized and often found in North America. …
- King Snakes. …
- Gopher Snakes. …
- Banded Water Snake.