Copperhead vs Eastern Rat Snake
Is the snake in my yard venomous?
The quick tell
Look at the pattern from above. A Copperhead wears tan-and-brown crossbands shaped like hourglasses - narrow over the spine, wide on the sides. A young Eastern Rat Snake shows the opposite: dark blotches that are widest over the spine. Adult rat snakes lose the pattern and turn mostly black, which no Copperhead ever does.
Field marks, side by side
| Copperhead | Eastern Rat Snake | |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern | Hourglass crossbands: narrow on the spine, wide on the sides | Blotches widest on the spine; adults mostly plain black |
| Head | Coppery, unmarked, distinctly triangular | Narrower head, often flecked or checkered |
| Build | Short and stocky, usually 2-3 ft | Long and lean, commonly 3-5 ft or more |
| Behavior | Freezes and relies on camouflage in leaf litter | Excellent climber, often found in trees, barns, and rafters |
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Get Huck - freeCommon questions
How can I tell a Copperhead from a rat snake fast?
Check where the pattern is widest. Copperhead crossbands are narrow over the spine and widen down the sides, like hourglasses laid across the back. Rat snake blotches are widest over the spine. Adult rat snakes are mostly black, which rules out Copperhead entirely.
Do Copperheads climb like rat snakes?
Rarely and poorly. A patterned snake high in a tree, on a wall, or in your rafters is almost certainly a rat snake - they are superb climbers, while Copperheads stay on the ground in leaf litter and rock piles.