Snakes in Kentucky
Snakes are common in the rural regions of Kentucky and are mostly seen between mid or late-April. The five venomous species inhabiting the state thrive in the western, eastern, and southern areas. One significant incident of snake bite in Kentucky happened on the snake bite in Kentucky happened on the 20th of June 2022, with a woman being bitten on the face by a snake hanging on the front door. She recovered from her injuries, though the type of snake that bit her remains unidentified.
The gray rat snake inhabiting backyards, parks in the suburbs, forest edges, and agricultural lands is Kentucky’s largest, measuring around 6 feet.
| Groups | Venomous | Non-venomous |
|---|---|---|
| Rattlesnakes | Pygmy Rattlesnake Timber Rattlesnake Western Pygmy Rattlesnake | |
| Pit Vipers | Copperhead | – |
| Water Snakes | Western Cottonmouth | Common Watersnake Diamondback Water Snake Banded Water Snake Plain-bellied Water Snake Copperbelly Water Snake Mississippi Green Watersnake |
| Whip Snakes | – | Coachwhip |
| Garter Snakes | – | Common Gartersnake Eastern Garter Snake Western Ribbon Snake Eastern Ribbon Snake Ribbon Snake |
| Kingsnakes | – | Black Kingsnake Scarlet Kingsnake Prairie Kingsnake Eastern Milksnake |
| Hognose Snakes | – | Eastern Hog-nosed Snake |
| Rat Snakes | – | Black Rat Snake Gray Ratsnake |
| Storeria | – | DeKay’s Brownsnake Redbelly Snake Northern Redbelly Snake |
| Regina | – | Queen Snake |
| Opheodrys | – | Rough Green Snake |
| Pituophis | – | Pine Snake |
| Clonophis | – | Kirtland’s Snake |
| Cemophora | – | Scarlet Snake |
| Virginia | – | Smooth Earth Snake |
| Tantilla | – | Southeastern Crowned Snake |
| Farancia | – | Mud Snake Western Mud Snake |
| Pantherophis | – | Corn Snake |
| Diadophis | Ring-necked Snake | |
| Carphophis | – | Eastern Worm Snake |
| Coluber | – | Eastern Racer |
Snakes by Colors and Patterns
Black Snakes: Black Kingsnake, Black Rat Snake, Eastern Racer, Copperbelly Water Snake
Brown Snakes: Common Gartersnake, DeKay’s Brownsnake, Corn Snake
Snakes by Regions
Snakes in Northern Kentucky: Common Gartersnake, Eastern Milksnake, Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Snakes in Southern Kentucky: Pygmy Rattlesnake
Snakes in Eastern Kentucky: Timber Rattlesnake, Copperhead, Rough Green Snake
Snakes in Western Kentucky: Western Cottonmouth, Southeastern Crowned Snake, Diamond-backed Watersnake, Prairie Kingsnake
Quick Information
Biggest Snake: Gray Rat Snake
Most Venomous Snakes: Timber Rattlesnake, Western Cottonmouth, Western Pygmy Rattlesnake
