Kentucky snakes: ID chart
33 snakes, 4 venomous (listed first). Last checked November 3, 2026.
The 4 venomous snakes come first: Eastern Copperhead, Northern Cottonmouth, Timber Rattlesnake, Western Pigmy Rattlesnake. The rest follow from A to Z, each with a photo where we have one and a short note on where it lives in Kentucky. The chart prints on letter or A4 paper; on screen, open any name on the Kentucky snakes page for photos, range and sources.
Eastern Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
Venomous
Northern Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma
Venomous
Physiographic Regions: Interior Plateau, Interior River Valley And Hills, Mississippi Alluvial Plain …
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
Venomous
Physiographic Regions: Cumberland Mountains, Cumberland Plateau, Plateau Escarpment, Bluegrass, Knobs …
Western Pigmy Rattlesnake
Sistrurus miliarius streckeri
Venomous
Physiographic Regions: Interior Plateau
Broad-banded Watersnake
Nerodia fasciata confluens
Non-venomous
Physiographic Regions: Mississippi Alluvial Plain
Central Ratsnake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
Non-venomous
Common Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon
Non-venomous
Common Wormsnake
Carphophis amoenus
Non-venomous
Copperbelly Watersnake
Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta
Non-venomous
Physiographic Regions: Bluegrass, Interior Plateau, Interior River Valley And Hills
DeKay's Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi
Non-venomous
Diamond-backed Watersnake
Nerodia rhombifer
Non-venomous
Eastern Black Kingsnake
Lampropeltis nigra
Non-venomous
Eastern Gartersnake
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
Non-venomous
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Heterodon platirhinos
Non-venomous
Eastern Pinesnake
Pituophis melanoleucus
Non-venomous
Physiographic Regions: Cumberland Mountains, Cumberland Plateau, Plateau Escarpment, Interior Plateau …
Eastern Ribbonsnake
Thamnophis saurita saurita
Non-venomous
Physiographic Regions: Plateau Escarpment, Bluegrass, Knobs, Interior Plateau, Interior River Valley And …
Kirtland's Snake
Clonophis kirtlandii
Non-venomous
Physiographic Regions: Bluegrass, Knobs, Interior River Valley And Hills, Mississippi Valley Loess Plain
Mississippi Green Watersnake
Nerodia cyclopion
Non-venomous
Physiographic Regions: Mississippi Alluvial Plain
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
Non-venomous
Plain-bellied Watersnake
Nerodia erythrogaster
Non-venomous
Prairie Kingsnake
Lampropeltis calligaster
Non-venomous
Queensnake
Regina septemvittata
Non-venomous
Red Cornsnake
Pantherophis guttatus
Non-venomous
Physiographic Regions: Cumberland Plateau, Plateau Escarpment, Interior Plateau, Interior River Valley And …
Red-bellied Mudsnake
Farancia abacura
Non-venomous
Physiographic Regions: Interior Plateau, Interior River Valley And Hills, Mississippi Alluvial Plain …
Red-bellied Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata
Non-venomous
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
Non-venomous
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Scarlet Kingsnake
Lampropeltis elapsoides
Non-venomous
Physiographic Regions: Cumberland Plateau, Plateau Escarpment, Interior Plateau
Scarlet Snake
Cemophora coccinea
Non-venomous
Physiographic Regions: Cumberland Plateau, Plateau Escarpment, Bluegrass, Knobs, Interior Plateau, Interior …
Smooth Earthsnake
Virginia valeriae
Non-venomous
Southeastern Crowned Snake
Tantilla coronata
Non-venomous
Physiographic Regions: Plateau Escarpment, Bluegrass, Knobs, Interior Plateau, Interior River Valley And …
Western Ribbonsnake
Thamnophis proximus
Non-venomous
Physiographic Regions: Interior River Valley And Hills, Mississippi Alluvial Plain
A picture cannot confirm what an animal is or that it is safe. Never handle a wild animal. Sources: Snakes (Snakes of Kentucky) (KDFWR); Kentucky Snakes (booklet) (KDFWR). stateswildlife.com/kentucky/snakes/