New Jersey snakes: ID chart
23 snakes, 2 venomous (listed first). Last checked November 3, 2026.
The 2 venomous snakes come first: Northern 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 New Jersey. The chart prints on letter or A4 paper; on screen, open any name on the New Jersey snakes page for photos, range and sources.
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Northern Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen
Venomous
Northern NJ, south to the Sourlands of Hunterdon and Somerset counties and north through western Bergen County
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Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus horridus
Venomous
Three populations: Kittatinny Ridge, the Highlands, and the Pine Barrens
Black Rat Snake
Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta
Non-venomous
Statewide in rural and semi-suburban areas
Coastal Plain Milk Snake (intergrade)
Lampropeltis t. triangulum x L.t. elapsoides
Non-venomous
Southern NJ; rare
Corn Snake
Elaphe guttata guttata
Non-venomous
Pine Barrens
Eastern Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
Non-venomous
Statewide; the most common snake in NJ
Eastern Hognose Snake
Heterodon platyrhinos
Non-venomous
Statewide except metropolitan areas
Eastern Kingsnake
Lampropeltis getula getula
Non-venomous
Southern NJ only
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Eastern Milk Snake
Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum
Non-venomous
Common in NJ
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Eastern Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis sauritus sauritus
Non-venomous
Common in NJ
Eastern Smooth Earth Snake
Virginia valeriae valeriae
Non-venomous
Mainly Piedmont and Coastal Plain; uncommon
Eastern Worm Snake
Carphophis amoenus amoenus
Non-venomous
Statewide in rural and suburban areas
Northern Black Racer
Coluber constrictor constrictor
Non-venomous
Statewide in rural and semi-suburban areas
Northern Brown Snake
Storeria dekayi dekayi
Non-venomous
Common in NJ
Northern Pine Snake
Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus
Non-venomous
Pine Barrens
Northern Redbelly Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata
Non-venomous
Statewide but hard to find
Northern Ringneck Snake
Diadophis punctatus edwardsii
Non-venomous
Statewide
Northern Scarlet Snake
Cemophora coccinea copei
Non-venomous
Uncommon in NJ
Northern Water Snake
Nerodia sipedon sipedon
Non-venomous
Statewide; one of the most common snakes in NJ
Queen Snake
Regina septemvittata
Non-venomous
Believed extirpated from New Jersey
Rough Green Snake
Opheodrys aestivus
Non-venomous
Southern NJ
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Smooth Green Snake
Opheodrys vernalis
Non-venomous
Northern NJ
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Southern Ringneck Snake
Diadophis punctatus punctatus
Non-venomous
A picture cannot confirm what an animal is or that it is safe. Never handle a wild animal. Sources: Snakes of New Jersey (brochure) (NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife, Endangered and Nongame Species Program). stateswildlife.com/new-jersey/snakes/