Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
Oklahoma has 8 venomous snakes named by official sources: Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Western diamondback rattlesnake, Timber rattlesnake, Prairie rattlesnake, Massasauga, Pygmy rattlesnake and Broad-banded Copperhead. Each one is labelled venomous by Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH) Herpetology, hosted by the Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma.
Recognize them from a distance; a photo cannot confirm that a snake is safe. Identifying animals safely.
Venom: “Oklahoma’s snake diversity includes 49 species, the large majority of which are considered nonvenomous. Beyond this bulk of ratsnakes, watersnakes, and less familiar species, the remaining eight species of rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouth are in the pit viper family and are considered venomous. … The broad-banded copperhead is one of two copperhead species thought to occur in Oklahoma.” (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
Agkistrodon contortrix
Venom: “And the copperhead is one of those venomous species.” (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
Agkistrodon piscivorus
Venom: “Cottonmouths are highly venomous snakes and should be observed with caution.” (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
Habitat: Northern cottonmouths are usually associated with water and they are good swimmers. (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
Sistrurus catenatus
Venom: “! Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) N … N - venomous” (Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH) Herpetology, hosted by the Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma)
Crotalus viridis
Venom: “! Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) N … N - venomous” (Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH) Herpetology, hosted by the Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma)
Sistrurus miliarius
Venom: “These venomous rattlesnakes are cryptically colored and usually lie motionless on the forest floor.” (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
Habitat: Western pygmy rattlesnakes are nearly always associated with forest habitats, including eastern deciduous forest and riparian woodlands. (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
Crotalus horridus
Venom: “It is critical to keep in mind that timber rattlesnakes are highly venomous and should not be handled or disturbed.” (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
Habitat: The west to east distribution of timber rattlesnakes in the United States extends from central Oklahoma nearly to Maine, and north to south from northern New York to central-east Texas. (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
Crotalus atrox
Venom: “The young are born complete with fangs and venom, armed and dangerous at birth, a good thing since the mother abandons them upon delivery.” (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
Habitat: Living in various habitats ranging from desert flats to river bottoms, the western diamondback spans across most of the southwest part of the United States, including most of Oklahoma. (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)
See all 48 snakes, venomous and not, on Oklahoma snakes. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation gives Oklahoma 49 snake species in all; that page lists the 48 that official sources name one by one.
Eastern Kingsnake Non-venomous
Florida kingsnake Non-venomous
More than 34 light crossbands, lightened scales between the bands, a weaker chain pattern on the sides, and usually 23 scale rows at midbody.
Eastern Kingsnake Non-venomous
Apalachicola kingsnake Non-venomous
Fewer than 26 wide crossbands with much lighter scales between them, or no bands at all (striped or patternless).
Milk Snake Non-venomous
Copperhead Venomous
The copperhead's head is coppery with no marks; the milksnake's head is light with brownish marks (Pennsylvania). Tennessee: copperhead has a copper-colored, unmarked head and triangular shapes on the side of the body. Pennsylvania says the eastern milksnake is the snake most often killed by mistake for a copperhead. Belly colour is not used here: Pennsylvania's own pages describe the copperhead belly two different ways (uniform cream in one account, mottled white to gray in another).
Coachwhip Non-venomous
North American racer (black racer) Non-venomous
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.
Northern watersnake Non-venomous
Cottonmouth (water moccasin) Venomous
Cottonmouths are heavier-bodied with a larger, chunky head, a pit between nostril and eye, darker color, and a light line from the eye to the corner of the mouth (Missouri). Cottonmouths have cat-like pupils; watersnakes have round pupils and no facial pit, and seen from above a cottonmouth's eyes are hidden while a watersnake's are visible (Florida Museum). Georgia DNR: banded watersnakes have bands widest on top; banded cottonmouths have bands widest on the sides (hourglass-shaped from above). Cottonmouths float on the water; watersnakes swim with the body just below the surface (Virginia DWR). Cautions from the same agencies: Virginia DWR says some other nonvenomous snakes, such as the eastern hog-nosed snake, also float, and that watersnakes often flatten the head when threatened so it looks diamond-shaped; CDFW says older northern watersnakes can look almost entirely dark brown or black.
Northern watersnake Non-venomous
Copperhead Venomous
Florida Museum (midland watersnake): the watersnake's crossbands are darker, narrower and much more numerous than a copperhead's and turn into blotches halfway down the body. Watersnakes have round pupils and dark vertical lines near the mouth; copperheads have no such lines.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
Records of snakes in Oklahoma peak in April to June and 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 University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences:
Report wildlife sightings (including mountain lions and bears) to ODWC online at wildlifedepartment.com/wildlife/report-wildlife; report suspected invasive aquatic species to ODWC at (918) 200-4815 or online. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
The species list comes from Checklist of Oklahoma Amphibians and Reptiles (Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Herpetology; hosted by the Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma) — Snakes; venom status cross-checked with ODWC Field Guide accounts and ODWC "How to Avoid Unwanted Snake Encounters" (2025) (Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH) Herpetology, hosted by the Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, checklist PDF created 2014-09-09, modified 2016-06-06; ODWC article May 15, 2025). 1 more entry comes 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.
“! Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) N … N - venomous”
“! Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) N … N - venomous”
“Oklahoma’s snake diversity includes 49 species, the large majority of which are considered nonvenomous. Beyond this bulk of ratsnakes, watersnakes, and less familiar species, the remaining eight species of rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouth are in the pit viper family and are considered venomous.”
“Oklahoma’s snake diversity includes 49 species, the large majority of which are considered nonvenomous. Beyond this bulk of ratsnakes, watersnakes, and less familiar species, the remaining eight species of rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouth are in the pit viper family and are considered venomous. … The broad-banded copperhead is one of two copperhead species thought to occur in Oklahoma.”
“If you’re concerned about a bite or are bitten by a venomous snake, seek medical attention.”
“If a copperhead or other snake is encountered, Allen recommends backing several feet away and enjoying the view.”
“‘To me, that September through October timeframe is the most hazardous time in our area. Snakes are getting ready to go back to the den. And they’ve also just had a bunch of little snakes.”
“These snakes are harmless to humans.”
“Speckled kingsnakes are harmless to humans.”
“Though non-venomous, the coachwhip will strike quickly at what it believes to be a threat if pressured.”
“Plain-bellied watersnakes are harmless to humans.”
“Northern diamond-backed watersnakes are harmless to humans.”
“In addition, rough greensnakes have distinctly keeled scales, whereas racers have smooth scales.”
“Instead of focusing on fish and frogs like other watersnakes, this nonvenomous snake specializes on molting crayfish.”
“These snakes are harmless to humans.”
“These snakes are harmless to humans.”
“And the copperhead is one of those venomous species.”
“Copperheads are mostly nocturnal during summer but are usually active during daylight in spring and fall. The mating season lasts from February to May and late August to October.”
“Cottonmouths are highly venomous snakes and should be observed with caution.”
“The young are born complete with fangs and venom, armed and dangerous at birth, a good thing since the mother abandons them upon delivery.”
“Being near the top of the food chain is one, but having one of the most deadly bites in the world gives the snake all the reason to act fearsome.”
“It is critical to keep in mind that timber rattlesnakes are highly venomous and should not be handled or disturbed.”
“These venomous rattlesnakes are cryptically colored and usually lie motionless on the forest floor.”
“Kansas glossy snakes are harmless to humans.”
“Eastern racers are harmless to humans.”
“Ring-necked snakes are harmless.”
“Ringed-neck snakes could be confused with the flat-headed snake, but flat-headed snakes have no neck ring, are lighter in color and have a pink belly with no spots.”
“But it is generally harmless to people.”
“Call the Oklahoma Poison Center immediately at 1-800-222-1222.”
“Snake bites are more common than many people realize, especially during the spring and summer months,”
“DO NOT handle or play with snakes. Even dead snakes can bite reflexively. … Watch where you step and place your hands when outdoors.”
“If you think you have discovered any invasive species contact us at (918) 200-4815 or report online.”
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