Are There Venomous Snakes in Rhode Island? Not Anymore

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

The venomous snake once found
Lookalikes
When they are active
If you are bitten or stung
How to report
About this list
Sources

No venomous snake is known to live in Rhode Island today. The timber rattlesnake is on the official list with the status: Extirpated circa 1963 per DEM; still on RI Species of Greatest Conservation Need (2015 Wildlife Action Plan). It is labelled venomous by CDC / NIOSH. The card below helps you recognize it; if you think you have seen one, leave it alone and report it.

The venomous snake once found in Rhode Island

Recognize them from a distance; a photo cannot confirm that a snake is safe. Identifying animals safely.

Timber Rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus

Venomous per CDC / NIOSH

Danger to people

“…one species, the Timber Rattlesnake, is extirpated circa 1963” Rhode Island DEM, Division of Fish & Wildlife

Size

Most adults 36 to 60 inches (3 to 5 feet); record 74.5 inches.

How to recognize it

Black tail ending in a rattle
Heat-sensing pit between nostril and eye
Large, thick head distinct from the neck; cat-like vertical pupil

Conservation

Extirpated circa 1963 per DEM; still on RI Species of Greatest Conservation Need (2015 Wildlife Action Plan)

What the sources say

Venom: “Venomous snakes found in the United States include rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths (also called water moccasins), and coral snakes.” (CDC / NIOSH)

Full Timber Rattlesnake guide

See all 13 snakes, venomous and not, on Rhode Island snakes.

Snakes people confuse

Black Racer or Timber rattlesnake?

Black Racer Non-venomous

Timber rattlesnake Venomous

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?

Black Racer Non-venomous

Northern water snake Non-venomous

NH lists it as commonly confused; it gives no separating feature.

Brown Snake (Dekay's Brownsnake) or Red-bellied Snake?

Brown Snake (Dekay's Brownsnake) Non-venomous

Red-bellied Snake Non-venomous

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?

Brown Snake (Dekay's Brownsnake) Non-venomous

Ring-necked Snake Non-venomous

Ring-necked snakes have smooth scales and yellow bellies with paired dots down the center.

Red-bellied snake or Dekay's brownsnake?

Red-bellied snake Non-venomous

Dekay's brownsnake Non-venomous

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?

Red-bellied snake Non-venomous

Ring-necked snake Non-venomous

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 venomous snakes are active in Rhode Island

Records of snakes in Rhode Island peak in April to June and August. They show when people record snakes, not how many there are (about month bars).

96 records of snakes in Rhode Island by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records).

Garter snakes often enter basements in spring and autumn. Rhode Island DEM, Division of Fish & Wildlife
Eastern ribbonsnakes are most active in spring. Rhode Island DEM, Division of Fish & Wildlife

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.

Official advice from Rhode Island DEM, Division of Fish & Wildlife and Rhode Island Natural History Survey:

Leave the snake alone. Rhode Island DEM, Division of Fish & Wildlife
A cornered or threatened snake may act aggressively. Rhode Island DEM, Division of Fish & Wildlife
Do not pick up a snake you cannot identify. Rhode Island Natural History Survey

How to report

Injured or orphaned wildlife: DEM 401-222-3070. Sightings: [email protected]. Division of Fish & Wildlife: 1-401-789-0281. Rhode Island DEM, Division of Fish & Wildlife

About this list

The species list comes from Rules and Regulations Governing Importation and Possession of Wild Animals (250-RICR-40-05-3), § 3.17 Appendix A: native snakes; with DEM factsheet Snakes of Rhode Island (Rhode Island Department of State (Code of Regulations); Rhode Island DEM rule, Rule effective from 07/28/2026; factsheet Internet Archive capture 2025-02-19).

Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.

Sources

Learn about RI wildlife. Rhode Island DEM, Division of Fish & Wildlife. archived copy, captured June 8, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“…please call DEM at 401-222-3070”
Rules and Regulations Governing Importation and Possession of Wild Animals (250-RICR-40-05-3), § 3.17 Appendix A. Rhode Island Department of State (Code of Regulations); Rhode Island DEM rule. Active rule, effective from 07/28/2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Reptiles of Rhode Island (DEM publication page). Rhode Island DEM, Division of Fish & Wildlife. archived copy, captured June 12, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“It provides meticulous accounts of the state’s seven native turtles and 13 native snakes and their respective habitats”
Snakes of Rhode Island (DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife factsheet). Rhode Island DEM, Division of Fish & Wildlife. archived copy, captured February 19, 2025; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (10)
“There are NO VENEMOUS snakes that occur in Rhode Island.”
“They are often confused with our native, non-venomous, Northern watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon), which can appear to have a ‘triangle-shaped’ head, similar to cottonmouths.”
“…gartersnake saliva seems to be toxic to the small animals upon which they prey, and some people may develop a rash if bitten.”
“Leave the snake alone.”
“If a snake feels cornered or threatened, it may act aggressively.”
“In spring and autumn, garter snakes often find their way into basements.”
“Most active in the spring, which is also when they mate”
“There are no venomous snakes in Rhode Island.”
“Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) are also found in southern New England, but have never been documented in Rhode Island.”
“Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus), also called ‘water moccasins’ are a southern species, occurring no farther north than Virginia, and are unable to survive in northern climates.”
Test Your Knowledge of Rhode Island’s Wildlife. Rhode Island DEM. archived copy, captured March 5, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Despite its intimidating display, this snake isn’t venomous, poses no threat to humans, and is perhaps the most docile of RI’s local snakes.”
Venomous Snakes (Outdoor Workers). CDC / NIOSH. archived copy, captured October 1, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Venomous snakes found in the United States include rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths (also called water moccasins), and coral snakes.”
Rhode Island Wildlife Action Plan, Chapter 1: Rhode Island’s Fish and Wildlife. Rhode Island DEM, Division of Fish & Wildlife. archived copy, captured March 5, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“…one species, the Timber Rattlesnake, is extirpated circa 1963”
A Copperhead in Rhode Island? Rhode Island Natural History Survey (non-profit survey; not a state agency). July 30, 2015; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“But also don’t pick up a snake if you can’t identify it.”
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.