There are many different types of snakes found in the United States, and while most of them are harmless, there are a few that can cause harm. This guide will help you to identify some of the more common venomous and nonvenomous snakes in Alabama.
It is important to be able to identify these snakes, not only for your safety but also for the safety of your family and pets. Whether you are exploring the great outdoors or simply taking care of your property, it is important to be able to recognize a venomous snake when you see one.
With this guide, you will be able to quickly identify any snakes in Alabama based on their physical characteristics. So, stay safe and keep an eye out for these snakes!
Please note, that while I have spent a long time compiling this list, it is not exhaustive. If you come across a snake that is not on this list, it is best to call a professional to remove it. Even nonvenomous snakes can cause injury with a bite.
View endemic snakes in other US states
Common snakes found in the state of Alabama
Copperhead
High Risk
Venomous
50–95 cm (20–37 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Cottonmouth
High Risk
Venomous
65 to 90 cm (26 to 35 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
High Risk
Venomous
1.1 to 1.7 m (3.5 to 5.5 ft)
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
Timber Rattlesnake
High Risk
Venomous
91–152 cm (36–60 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Pigmy Rattlesnake
High Risk
Venomous
40–60 cm (16–24 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
Eastern Coral Snake
Medium Risk
Venomous
50–95 cm (20–37 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Texas
Worm Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
9–28 cm (7.5–11.0 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Scarlet Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
14-26 inches (36–66 cm)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Racer
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
50 -152 cm (20 -60 in)
- All States except Alaska & Hawaii
Ringneck Snake
Zero Risk
Nonvenomous
25–38 cm (10–15 in)
- All States except Alaska & Hawaii
Indigo Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
152-213 cm (60-84 in)
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Texas
Corn Snake
Zero Risk
Nonvenomous
61–182 cm (2.–5.97 ft)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Mud Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
101.6–137 cm (40–54 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
Rainbow Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
91–122 cm (36-48 in)
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Virginia
Western Hognose Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
40–50 cm (15–20 in)
- All States except Alaska & Hawaii
Eastern Hognose Snake
Low Risk
Venomous
71 cm (28 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Southern Hognose Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
35.5–61 cm (14-24 in)
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
Prairie Kingsnake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
76–102 cm (30–40 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Wisconsin
Common Kingsnake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
90– 122 cm (35–48 in)
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- NewJersey
- NewMexico
- NewYork
- NorthCarolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- SouthCarolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- WestVirginia
Coachwhip
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
42-60 in (107-152 cm)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
Mississippi Green Water Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
50–95 cm (20–37 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Tennessee
- Texas
Plainbelly Water Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
76–122 cm (24–40 in)
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Diamondback Water Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
76–122 cm (30–48 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Texas
Northern Water Snake
NB: Often confused for the venomous Cottonmouth
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
61-140 com (24–55 in)
- All States except Alaska & Hawaii
Brown Water Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
76–152 cm (30–60 in)
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Arkansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
Rough Green Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
59–81 cm (22 – 32 in)
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Pine Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
120–230 cm (48–90 in)
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Delaware
- Virginia
Glossy Crayfish Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
36–61 cm (14–24 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Virginia
Queen Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
17–23 cm (7–9 in)
- Alabama
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Pine Woods Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
25–33 cm (10–13 in)
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
Black Swamp Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
50–95 cm (20–37 in)
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Redbelly Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
4–10 cm (10–25 in)
- All States except Alaska & Hawaii
Southeastern Crowned Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
20–25 cm (8-10 in)
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
Plains Garter Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
38–71 cm (15–28 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Eastern Ribbon Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
41–89 cm (16–35 in)
- Alabama
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Common Garter Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
55–137 cm (22–54 in)
- All States except Alaska & Hawaii
Lined Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
50–95 cm (20–37 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Texas
Rough Earth Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
18–25 cm (7–10 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Smooth Earth Snake
Low Risk
Nonvenomous
18–25 cm (7–10 in)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
For a full list of every venomous and nonvenomous snake found in the USA, check out my full article: Identity 130+ Snake Species From The USA (With Images)
