Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
New Mexico has 12 venomous snakes named by official sources: Western Coral Snake, Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Sidewinder Rattlesnake, Banded Rock Rattlesnake and Mottled Rock Rattlesnake (two forms of one species), Western Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Mojave Rattlesnake, Tiger Rattlesnake, Prairie Rattlesnake, New Mexico Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake, Western Massasauga and Arizona Black Rattlesnake. Each one is labelled venomous by New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center, BISON-M, National Park Service and College of ACES.
Recognize them from a distance; a photo cannot confirm that a snake is safe. Identifying animals safely.
Crotalus cerberus
Venom: “The two types of venomous snakes in New Mexico are the rattlesnake and the coral snake.” (New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center)
Crotalus lepidus klauberi
Venom: “Rattlesnakes have rattles on the ends of their tails, and they all have venom.” (BISON-M)
Crotalus ornatus
Venom: “Rattlesnakes have rattles on the ends of their tails, and they all have venom.” (BISON-M)
Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus
Venom: “Mojave rattlesnakes in Hidalgo County, New Mexico appear to have two types of venom present, specifically neurotoxic and hemorrhagic.” (BISON-M)
Crotalus lepidus lepidus
Venom: “Many different types of rattlesnakes live in New Mexico, including: prairie, western diamondback, black-tailed, rock, ridgenose, massasauga and Mojave.” (New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center)
Crotalus willardi obscurus
Venom: “Many different types of rattlesnakes live in New Mexico, including: prairie, western diamondback, black-tailed, rock, ridgenose, massasauga and Mojave.” (New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center)
Crotalus viridis
Venom: “Prairie rattlesnakes are also venomous to people and pets” (National Park Service)
Crotalus cerastes
Venom: “The sidewinder rattlesnake is slightly less poisonous than the western diamondback rattlesnake” (BISON-M)
Crotalus tigris
Venom: “The two types of venomous snakes in New Mexico are the rattlesnake and the coral snake.” (New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center)
Crotalus molossus molossus
Venom: “Black-tailed rattlesnakes are sometimes seen along the trail sunning themselves in the summer. Watch your step so you don't disturb these venomous snakes.” (National Park Service)
Micruroides euryxanthus euryxanthus
Venom: “Although coral snakes rarely bite, their venom is highly poisonous, so they should not be handled.” (College of ACES)
Crotalus atrox
Venom: “…western diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) are one of the venomous species of snake at El Malpais.” (National Park Service)
Sistrurus tergeminus
Venom: “Like all rattlesnakes, the desert massasauga is venomous” (BISON-M)
For 32 other snakes on New Mexico's list, no official source we use states whether it is venomous: Arid Land Ribbonsnake, Big Bend Patchnose Snake, Black-necked Gartersnake, Chihuahuan Black-headed Snake, Chihuahuan Nightsnake, Desert Nightsnake, Desert Striped Whipsnake and Eastern Hognose Snake and others. That does not make them harmless. Leave every snake alone.
See all 61 snakes, venomous and not, on New Mexico snakes.
Black Racer Not stated
Eastern coachwhip (black variant) Non-venomous
Distinctly lighter or reddish toward the rear of the body.
Coachwhip Non-venomous
North American racer (black racer) Not stated
TWRA: the racer lacks the coachwhip's reddish tint along the sides of the tail; an all-black coachwhip is distinctly lighter or reddish toward the rear. Oklahoma: the coachwhip is much larger.
Rough green snake Not stated
Oklahoma: some central and western Oklahoma populations of the eastern yellow-bellied racer can look green. Rough greensnakes have distinctly keeled scales; racers have smooth scales.
Gopher snake (gophersnake) Non-venomous
Glossy snake Not stated
AZGFD: gopher snake back scales are keeled, which distinguishes it from the similar-looking glossy snake
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Venomous
Bullsnake Non-venomous
Bullsnakes lack a rattle but copy rattlesnake color and back pattern, and can hiss and shake the tail. In dry brush that can sound like a buzzing rattlesnake. National Park Service
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Venomous
Gopher snake Non-venomous
Can mimic a rattlesnake in appearance but has no rattle.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
Records of snakes in New Mexico peak in July to September. They show when people record snakes, not how many there are (about month bars).
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.
Official advice from New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center and National Park Service:
Dangerous wildlife encounter: contact the nearest NMDOW conservation officer (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; enforcement contacts map at https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/enforcement/law-enforcement-contact-information/), otherwise State Police dispatch. Suspected New World screwworm in game animals: NMDOW 888-248-6866. New Mexico Department of Wildlife
The species list comes from BISON-M (Biota Information System of New Mexico) species search, taxonomic name "Serpentes" (New Mexico Department of Wildlife) (New Mexico Department of Wildlife (BISON-M, with Natural Heritage New Mexico), live database export 2026-11-03). 2 more entries come from other official sources named on each card.
Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.
“In the event of a dangerous encounter, please reach out to your nearest Department conservation officer during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.).”
“Among the non-venomous snakes are the Chihuahuan hook-nosed snake, Trans-Pecos ratsnake, and mountain patch-nosed snake.”
“Harmless to humans, the coachwhip is a long, slender, tan or brown snake that can reach up to seven feet in length.”
“Some harmless snakes (such as king snakes and coachwhips) eat other snakes, including poisonous ones.”
“Some non-poisonous snakes, such as bull snakes, coachwhips and rat snakes, behave like rattlesnakes when confronted.”
“Although coral snakes rarely bite, their venom is highly poisonous, so they should not be handled.”
“The western coral snake (Microroides euryxanthus) is found in extreme southwestern Catron County and western Hidalgo and Grant counties.”
“Coral Snakes are often confused with the non-venomous New Mexico milk snake because they have similar banding patterns.”
“The two types of venomous snakes in New Mexico are the rattlesnake and the coral snake.”
“Do not try to capture or handle a venomous snake.”
“Snake season is usually April through October in New Mexico, when snakes come out of their winter dens to hunt for food and water.”
“Although non-venomous, it can bite rather effectively (Stebbins 1985).”
“Bull snakes are not venomous and do not have rattles on the end of their tail.”
“Black-tailed rattlesnakes are sometimes seen along the trail sunning themselves in the summer. Watch your step so you don't disturb these venomous snakes.”
“It is typically not aggressive and is not venomous”
“…western diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) are one of the venomous species of snake at El Malpais.”
“Prairie rattlesnakes are also venomous to people and pets”
“Often confused with rattlesnakes, bullsnakes lack a rattle.”
“Although prairie rattlesnakes are smaller than western diamondback rattlesnakes, prairie rattlesnake coloration is similar with a range of green to brown with a series of brown or black blotches. No black and white striping is present at the base of the rattle.”
“The sidewinder rattlesnake is slightly less poisonous than the western diamondback rattlesnake”
“Rattlesnakes have rattles on the ends of their tails, and they all have venom.”
“Many different types of rattlesnakes live in New Mexico, including: prairie, western diamondback, black-tailed, rock, ridgenose, massasauga and Mojave.”
“Call 911 for transport to a medical facility.”
“Rattlesnakes have rattles on the ends of their tails, and they all have venom.”
“Mojave rattlesnakes in Hidalgo County, New Mexico appear to have two types of venom present, specifically neurotoxic and hemorrhagic.”
“Like all rattlesnakes, the desert massasauga is venomous”
“Coral snakes can easily be confused with non-venomous milk snakes because of their similar banding patterns.”
“The most important thing to remember about snakes is to give them plenty of room to leave an area if encountered.”
“Snake season typically will be the most likely time to encounter any snake, which is spring through summer.”
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