Snakes in Montana
The quickest way to know which snakes live in Montana is to see what people are actually finding. The map below shows recent, verified snakes sightings across Montana, and the list beneath it is the snakes recorded most often there lately. Most are harmless, and each species page flags whether it is venomous, so you can learn the few worth treating with care. Identify a snake from a distance and from a photo, and never handle one.
Recent research-grade sightings from the iNaturalist community, filtered to snakes across Montana.
Snakes seen most often in Montana
Ranked by recent research-grade observations. Tap any species Huck has catalogued for how to identify it, its habitat, and its safety notes.
Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and the ranking reflects where people record wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily common everywhere in Montana. Treat this as a live snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.
Found a snake in Montana?
Identify any snake from a photo in seconds, with its habitat, range and safety notes, and build your collection as you go.
Get HuckMore wildlife in Montana
Looking more widely? See snakes near you anywhere in the country.
Common questions
What snakes live in Montana?
Commonly recorded snakes in Montana include Western Terrestrial Garter Snake, Gopher Snake, Prairie Rattlesnake, Common Garter Snake, North American Racer, based on recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. The full list below is ranked by how often each has been seen lately.
Which snakes in Montana are venomous?
Identify the species rather than relying on folk rules about head or pupil shape. Across the United States the venomous snakes are the rattlesnakes, copperhead, cottonmouth and coral snakes; which of those occur in Montana varies, and each species page carries a safety note. If someone is bitten, seek medical help immediately.
Get Huck field notes
Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.