Wisconsin snakes: ID chart

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

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

Eastern Massasauga

Sistrurus catenatus

Venomous

A few isolated populations in the southwestern third of the state, as far east as Walworth County …

Timber Rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus

Venomous

Southwestern Wisconsin: bluffs along the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers and their tributaries (UW-Extension …

Butler's Gartersnake

Thamnophis butleri

Non-venomous

Central Ratsnake

Pantherophis alleghaniensis

Non-venomous

Southwestern Wisconsin (savanna and oak forest habitats)

Common Gartersnake

Thamnophis sirtalis

Non-venomous

Every county of the state

Common Watersnake

Nerodia sipedon

Non-venomous

DeKay's Brownsnake

Storeria dekayi

Non-venomous

Eastern Foxsnake

Pantherophis vulpinus

Non-venomous

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake

Heterodon platirhinos

Non-venomous

Eastern Milksnake

Lampropeltis triangulum

Non-venomous

Eastern Ribbonsnake

Thamnophis saurita

Non-venomous

Bog relicts near or south of the Tension Zone

Gophersnake

Pituophis catenifer

Non-venomous

Lined Snake

Tropidoclonion lineatum

Non-venomous

North American Racer

Coluber constrictor

Non-venomous

Northern Ring-necked Snake

Diadophis punctatus edwardsii

Non-venomous

Plains Gartersnake

Thamnophis radix

Non-venomous

Prairie Ring-necked Snake

Diadophis punctatus arnyi

Non-venomous

Queensnake

Regina septemvittata

Non-venomous

Red-bellied Snake

Storeria occipitomaculata

Non-venomous

Smooth Greensnake

Opheodrys vernalis

Non-venomous

Statewide range map on DNR page; buff-colored individuals in northern and central Wisconsin

Western Ribbonsnake

Thamnophis proximus

Non-venomous

Western Wormsnake

Carphophis vermis

Non-venomous

Only known from extreme western Grant County

A picture cannot confirm what an animal is or that it is safe. Never handle a wild animal. Sources: Herps of Wisconsin (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources); Outdoor Hazards in Wisconsin: A Guide to Insects, Plants, and Wildlife (G3564) (University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension); Butler's Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri) - Wisconsin's rare animals (Natural Heritage Inventory) (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources); Central Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) - Wisconsin's rare animals (Natural Heritage Inventory) (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources); Common Gartersnake (Herps of Wisconsin species page) (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources); Common Watersnake (Herps of Wisconsin species page) (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources); and others listed on the web page. stateswildlife.com/wisconsin/snakes/