Snakes in Washington, D.C.

The quickest way to know which snakes live in Washington, D.C. is to see what people are actually finding. The map below shows recent, verified snakes sightings across Washington, D.C., 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 Washington, D.C..

Snakes seen most often in Washington, D.C.

Ranked by recent research-grade observations. Tap any species Huck has catalogued for how to identify it, its habitat, and its safety notes.

Central Ratsnake

Pantherophis alleghaniensis

Agkistrodon contortrix

Pantherophis guttatus

1 observation

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 Washington, D.C.. Treat this as a live snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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More wildlife in Washington, D.C.

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Looking more widely? See snakes near you anywhere in the country.

Common questions

What snakes live in Washington, D.C.?

Commonly recorded snakes in Washington, D.C. include Central Ratsnake, DeKay's Brownsnake, Common Watersnake, Common Garter Snake, Common Wormsnake, based on recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. The full list below is ranked by how often each has been seen lately.

Which snakes in Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C. varies, and each species page carries a safety note. If someone is bitten, seek medical help immediately.

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