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Massachusetts snakes: ID chart

14 snakes, 2 venomous (listed first). Last checked November 3, 2026.

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The 2 venomous snakes come first: Copperhead, Timber 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 Massachusetts. The chart prints on letter or A4 paper; on screen, open any name on the Massachusetts snakes page for photos, range and sources.

Copperhead
Photo: USFWSmidwest · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Copperhead

Agkistrodon contortrix

Venomous

Hampden, Hampshire, and Norfolk counties. Listed as Endangered.

Timber Rattlesnake
Photo: NPS Photo · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Timber Rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus

Venomous

Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, and Norfolk counties. Listed as Endangered.

Common Gartersnake
Photo: kclarksdnhmorg · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Common Gartersnake

Thamnophis sirtalis

Non-venomous

Statewide

DeKay's Brownsnake
Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

DeKay's Brownsnake

Storeria dekayi

Non-venomous

Statewide except Martha's Vineyard island and Nantucket County.

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Photo: Joshua Liverman · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake

Heterodon platirhinos

Non-venomous

Barnstable, Bristol, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Plymouth, Middlesex, and Worcester counties …

No confirmed photo of Eastern Ratsnake

Eastern Ratsnake

Pantherophis allegheniensis

Non-venomous

Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties. Local subspecies known as Black Rat Snake …

Eastern Ribbonsnake
Photo: Rstanton13 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized

Eastern Ribbonsnake

Thamnophis sauritus

Non-venomous

Statewide

Eastern Wormsnake
Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Eastern Wormsnake

Carphophis amoenus

Non-venomous

Connecticut River Valley in Hampden County. Listed as Threatened.

Milksnake
Photo: Tom Norton · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Milksnake

Lampropeltis triangulum

Non-venomous

Statewide

North American Racer
Photo: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

North American Racer

Coluber constrictor

Non-venomous

Statewide except Berkshire and Nantucket counties. Local subspecies known as Black Racer.

Northern Watersnake
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Northern Watersnake

Nerodia sipedon

Non-venomous

Statewide except Dukes County.

Red-bellied Snake
Photo: Rstanton13 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized

Red-bellied Snake

Storeria occipitomaculata

Non-venomous

Statewide except Nantucket County. Local subspecies known as Black Racer.

Ring-necked Snake
Photo: Peter Paplanus from St. Louis, Missouri · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Ring-necked Snake

Diadophis punctatus

Non-venomous

Statewide

Smooth Greensnake
Photo: User:Rstanton13 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized

Smooth Greensnake

Opheodrys vernalis

Non-venomous

Statewide

A picture cannot confirm what an animal is or that it is safe. Never handle a wild animal. Sources: Amphibians and Reptiles in Massachusetts (MassWildlife); Snakes of Massachusetts (MassWildlife); Learn about timber rattlesnakes (MassWildlife Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program); Learn about copperheads (MassWildlife Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program). stateswildlife.com/massachusetts/snakes/