On this page Venomous snakes The other 9 snakes Lookalikes When they are active If you are bitten or stung How to report What official sources say About this list Sources Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: Among Maine’s inland (nonmarine) reptiles are seven turtle species and nine snake species. Maine’s 10th snake species, the timber rattlesnake, is extirpated
This page lists 10 snakes .
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife gives a total of 9; the 10 here are the snakes official sources name one by one.
Venomous snakes in Maine Official sources label these snakes venomous in Maine. The timber rattlesnake is on the official list with the status: Extirpated (native populations removed) from Maine. Venomous snakes in Maine has more on each one.
The other 9 snakes From A to Z. Some harmless snakes mimic venomous ones: leave every snake alone.
Photo: kclarksdnhmorg · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Common Gartersnake Thamnophis sirtalis
Non-venomous per Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Where in Maine Statewide Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
J F M A M J J A S O N D
253 records by month. What the sources say Venom: “Writhes, bites, and voids feces when handled, but like all Maine snakes is non-venomous” (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Habitat: Forested uplands, brushy fields, meadows, grassland, old buildings, and rock outcrops, as well as wetter areas such as streams, bogs, and marshes (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons Nerodia sipedon
Non-venomous per Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Size Adults 22 to 42 inches long, occasionally to 59 inches (Missouri). Pennsylvania gives 24 to over 50 inches; females are usually bigger than males. How to recognize it Dark crossbands on the front part of the body break up into rows of blotches from the middle of the body to the tail. Belly white, yellow or orange, usually with dark half-moon-shaped spots. Keeled (ridged) scales, so it feels rough; round pupils like other nonvenomous snakes in Missouri. Where in Maine Southern, central, and eastern regions Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife What the sources say Venom: “Writhes, bites, and voids feces when handled, but like all Maine snakes is non-venomous” (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Habitat: Still or slow-moving water of lakes, ponds, and streams (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Full Common Watersnake guide
Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons Storeria dekayi
Non-venomous per Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Size Most adults 9 to 13 inches; occasionally up to about 20 inches. How to recognize it Dark top of head; a dark spot under each eye and on each side of the neck Keeled (ridged) scales in 17 rows; round pupil Tennessee: a small dark downward streak on the side of the head Where in Maine Southern and central regions Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation State Special Concern; Species of Greatest Conservation Need What the sources say Venom: “Writhes, bites, and voids feces when handled, but like all Maine snakes is non-venomous” (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Habitat: Found in forested uplands, brushy fields, and near bogs and marshes (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Full DeKay’s Brownsnake guide
Photo: Tom Norton · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Lampropeltis triangulum
Non-venomous per Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Size Eastern milksnake 24 to 52 inches (Alabama); TN gives 24 to 36 inches for eastern and 21 to 28 for red milksnake. How to recognize it Eastern milksnake: black-and-white checkerboard belly (Ohio). Western milksnake in Louisiana: underside dull white with scattered black marks. Eastern milksnake: a light Y- or V-shaped mark is usually present on the nape Smooth, shiny scales and round pupils Where in Maine Southern and central regions Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife What the sources say Venom: “Writhes, bites, and voids feces when handled, but like all Maine snakes is non-venomous” (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Habitat: Found in forested uplands, brushy fields, meadows, grassland, old buildings, and rock outcrops (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Full Eastern Milksnake guide
Photo: Rstanton13 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized Eastern Ribbonsnake Thamnophis sauritus
Non-venomous per Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Where in Maine Southern and central regions Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation State Special Concern; Species of Greatest Conservation Need What the sources say Venom: “Writhes, bites, and voids feces when handled, but like all Maine snakes is non-venomous” (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Habitat: Shallow and semi-permanent wetlands with abundant emergent and shrubby vegetation, including large vernal pools, shrub swamps, wet meadows, bogs, and small marshy ponds (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Photo: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons Coluber constrictor
Non-venomous per Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Size Most adults about 3 to 5 ft. Sources range from 20 to 56 inches (Florida Museum) to 34 to 77 inches (New Jersey); Alabama says some exceed 6 ft. How to recognize it Smooth scales Long and slender with large eyes White chin Where in Maine Southern region only Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation State Endangered; Species of Greatest Conservation Need What the sources say Venom: “May react aggressively if cornered, although like all Maine snakes is harmless” (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Habitat: Shrub-grassland and dry, open woodlands (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Full North American Racer guide
Photo: Rstanton13 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized Storeria occipitomaculata
Non-venomous per Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Size Usually 8 to 10 inches; state figures run from about 4 to 16 inches, with a Florida record of 16.6 inches. How to recognize it Plain, unmarked red or orange belly. Three light spots just behind the head, which may fuse into a collar. Keeled (ridged) scales in 15 rows at midbody and round pupils. Where in Maine Statewide, but may be absent from northernmost Maine Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
J F M A M J J A S O N D
53 records by month. What the sources say Venom: “Writhes, bites, and voids feces when handled, but like all Maine snakes is non-venomous” (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Habitat: Forested uplands, fields, old buildings, gardens, and rock outcrops (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Full Red-bellied Snake guide
Photo: Peter Paplanus from St. Louis, Missouri · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons Diadophis punctatus
Non-venomous per Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Venom note “…mildly venomous, harmless to humans” Size Usually 8 to 15 inches long; Alabama reports up to about 18 inches, rarely 24. AZGFD gives a maximum of 34 inches for Arizona animals. How to recognize it A yellow, cream or orange ring around the neck; it may be incomplete, and some Lower Florida Keys and western Arizona snakes lack it. Bright yellow to orange or red belly, often with a row of black half-moon spots; the underside of the tail is often red. Smooth, shiny scales and a small head only slightly wider than the neck. Where in Maine Statewide, but may be absent from northernmost Maine Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife What the sources say Venom: “So-called ‘rear-fanged,’ mildly venomous (but harmless to humans)” (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Habitat: Moist and dry woodlands and clearings (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Full Ring-necked Snake guide
Photo: User:Rstanton13 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized Smooth Greensnake Opheodrys vernalis
Non-venomous per Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Where in Maine Southern, central, and eastern regions Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife What the sources say Venom: “Writhes, bites, and voids feces when handled, but like all Maine snakes is non-venomous” (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Habitat: Open areas, including meadows, grasslands, forest clearings, and suburban lawns and gardens (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
Snakes people confuse Brown Snake (Dekay's Brownsnake) or Red-bellied Snake? The red-bellied snake has a red underside; the brown snake's belly is cream, yellow or pink.
Brown Snake (Dekay's Brownsnake) or Ring-necked Snake? Ring-necked snakes have smooth scales and yellow bellies with paired dots down the center.
Black Racer or Timber rattlesnake? NH Fish and Game: the rattlesnake has a blunt rattle, is thicker, and has keeled scales and a triangular head.
Black Racer or Northern water snake? NH lists it as commonly confused; it gives no separating feature.
Red-bellied snake or Dekay's brownsnake? Tennessee: Dekay's brownsnake has a yellowish, tan or pinkish belly with very small black dots on the sides.
Red-bellied snake or Ring-necked snake? Connecticut: juvenile redbelly snakes have neck spots that look like a ring, which causes confusion with the ring-necked snake.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When snakes are active in Maine Records of snakes in Maine peak in June to September. They show when people record snakes, not how many there are (about month bars ).
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
392 records of snakes in Maine by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records). If you are bitten or stung Call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Poison Help connects you to your local poison center, any time of day.
How to report Stranded, entangled or injured whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals or sea turtles: Maine Marine Animal Reporting Hotline 1-800-532-9551 (DMR). White shark sightings: DMR identification form. Reptile and amphibian sightings, especially listed species: Maine Amphibian & Reptile Atlas Project (IFW). Sick or injured bears: local Game Warden or Regional Wildlife Biologist. Browntail moth and forest-pest questions: dial 211. Maine Department of Marine Resources
What official sources say Are there venomous snakes in Maine? No. IFW says all Maine snakes are non-venomous. The only venomous species, the timber rattlesnake, is extirpated: there has been no credible evidence of it in Maine since the mid 1800s. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
“Writhes, bites, and voids feces when handled, but like all Maine snakes is non-venomous” Are there rattlesnakes in Maine? No. IFW: the timber rattlesnake is extirpated from Maine and was last seen ca. 1860. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
“Maine’s 10th snake species, the timber rattlesnake, is extirpated, with no credible evidence of the species available since the mid 1800s.” Are there copperheads or cottonmouths in Maine? Not on the official list. Neither appears on IFW's list of Maine snakes, and IFW says all Maine snakes are non-venomous. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
“Writhes, bites, and voids feces when handled, but like all Maine snakes is non-venomous” Sources Listed Species (Maine Endangered and Threatened Species) . Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Reptiles & Amphibians: Species Information . Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Quoted passages (2) “Among Maine’s inland (nonmarine) reptiles are seven turtle species and nine snake species. Maine’s 10th snake species, the timber rattlesnake, is extirpated” “Maine’s 10th snake species, the timber rattlesnake, is extirpated, with no credible evidence of the species available since the mid 1800s.” Common Gartersnake (species page) . Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Common Watersnake (species page) . Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Quoted passages (1) “Writhes, bites, and voids feces when handled, but like all Maine snakes is non-venomous” Dekays Brownsnake (species page) . Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Eastern Milksnake (species page) . Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Eastern Ribbonsnake (species page) . Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026. North American Racer (species page) . Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Quoted passages (1) “May react aggressively if cornered, although like all Maine snakes is harmless” Red Bellied Snake (species page) . Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Ring Necked Snake (species page) . Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Quoted passages (2) “So-called ‘rear-fanged,’ mildly venomous (but harmless to humans)” “…mildly venomous, harmless to humans” Smooth Greensnake (species page) . Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Quoted passages (1) “Hibernates in burrows from October through April, often with other snakes” Timber Rattlesnake (species page) . Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Quoted passages (2) “Natural History Notes Venomous” “Heavily persecuted by early New England settlers, last seen in Maine ca. 1860” Protected Species In The Gulf Of Maine (DMR species information) . Maine Department of Marine Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Quoted passages (1) “Marine Animal Reporting Hotline 1-800-532-9551 To report a live, dead, stranded, or entangled whale, dolphin, porpoise, seal, or sea turtle.” GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page. 
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