Snakes Near Me
Most snakes you are likely to meet are harmless, but knowing which species live near you is worth doing before you need to. The map below shows recent, verified snake sightings in your area, and every species in the guide below carries a safety note telling you whether it is venomous. If you have found a snake, identify it from a distance and from a photograph - never handle a snake to get a better look at it.
Recent research-grade sightings from the iNaturalist community. The map starts near your approximate location - allow location access to centre it exactly on you.
Snakes you are most likely to see
The commonest snakes in the Huck field guide - tap any species for habitat, diet, rarity and where it has been spotted.
How to tell if a snake near you is venomous
The only reliable way is to identify the species, ideally from a photo taken at a safe distance. The folk rules about triangular heads, cat-like pupils or banding are unreliable: harmless snakes flatten their heads to bluff, you cannot safely get close enough to see a pupil, and several harmless species copy the pattern of venomous ones.
In the United States the venomous snakes fall into two groups. Most are pit vipers: the rattlesnakes, the copperhead and the cottonmouth, all with a heavy body and a heat-sensing pit between eye and nostril. The other is the coral snakes, slender and ringed in red, yellow and black. Everything else you are likely to meet is harmless. The map above and the guide below show which species have actually been recorded near you, and each species page carries a safety note.
Harmless snakes people kill by mistake
Most snakes killed out of fear are harmless, and often the ones doing the most good by eating rats and mice. Watersnakes are constantly mistaken for cottonmouths at the water’s edge, rat snakes and others get taken for copperheads, and gopher and bull snakes do a convincing rattlesnake act: they hiss, flatten the head, coil, and buzz the tail in dry leaves, with no rattle and no venom behind it. When in doubt, back off and identify it rather than reaching for a shovel. The comparison guides linked above walk through the exact marks that separate each dangerous snake from its harmless double.
What to do if you find a snake
Leave it alone and give it room, and it will almost always move off on its own. Keep children and pets back, and do not try to catch, move or kill it: the large majority of bites happen to people doing exactly that. If you need it gone from a building, a local wildlife or animal-control service can relocate it.
If someone is bitten by a venomous snake, treat it as an emergency. Stay calm, keep the person still, keep the bite below heart level, and get to a hospital straight away. Do not cut the wound, try to suck out venom, apply ice, or use a tourniquet, all of which cause more harm. A photo of the snake from a safe distance can help staff choose treatment, but never go back for it.
When are snakes most active?
Snakes are cold-blooded, so they follow the warmth. Across most of the country they are out from spring through autumn and shelter underground through the cold months. On mild days they bask in the open, including on trails and warm roads; in the heat of summer they shift to early morning and evening and lie up in the shade at midday. They rest under rocks, logs, woodpiles and sheets of plywood, which is why it pays to look before reaching into those spots rather than after.
Related guides
Found something you don’t recognise?
Identify any plant, bird, or animal from a photo, then watch your collection fill up as you find more.
Get HuckSnakes by state
See which snakes live in your state, with a live map and the species seen most often there.
Browse snakes by place
Heading somewhere specific? See what is being spotted there.
Wildlife in U.S. National Parks
Wildlife in U.S. State Parks
Wildlife in National Historical Parks
Wildlife by State
Wildlife by City
Common questions
What snakes live near me?
That varies by region and habitat. Recent verified sightings show which species have actually been confirmed near you, and each species page notes whether it is venomous.
How do I know if a snake is venomous?
Do not rely on folk rules like head shape or pupil shape - they are unreliable and several harmless species mimic venomous ones. Identify the species itself, from a safe distance and ideally from a photo. In North America the venomous species are the rattlesnakes, copperhead, cottonmouth and coral snakes.
What should I do if I find a snake?
Leave it alone and give it room. Snakes bite defensively, and most bites happen when someone tries to handle, move or kill one. Back away and it will almost always leave on its own. If you or someone else is bitten, seek medical help immediately rather than attempting any first-aid remedy.
How do I keep snakes away from my yard?
Take away what draws them, which is shelter and food. Clear woodpiles, brush, debris and tall grass where they hide, seal gaps under sheds and foundations, and above all control rodents, since a yard full of mice is a magnet for snakes. Most snakes are only passing through, and a yard with a resident harmless snake usually has fewer pests, not more.
Do snake repellents or mothballs actually work?
Mostly no. Independent testing has found most commercial snake repellents ineffective, and home remedies like mothballs, sulfur or lime do not reliably deter snakes. Mothballs in particular are a pesticide that is unsafe and often illegal to scatter in the yard, where it can poison pets, children and groundwater. Changing the habitat to remove shelter and rodents works far better.
Are baby snakes more dangerous than adults?
No, this is a myth. Baby venomous snakes are not more venomous and do not somehow inject more venom than adults, which carry much larger venom glands. A bite from any venomous snake, adult or young, needs immediate medical care, so the size of the snake does not change what you should do.
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