Snakes in Alabama
Alabama has around 66 recorded species and subspecies of snakes, of which 11 are considered venomous to humans. The remaining 55 are either completely non-venomous or mildly venomous. For instance, the eastern hognose snake is mildly venomous to smaller prey like toads and rarely bites humans.
While one would notice the different snake species throughout the year, they are primarily active in spring from March to April. Their brumation period starts from September through December, when most of the snakes go into hibernation.
The eastern diamondback is the deadliest of all the venomous snakes in Alabama, capable of delivering fatal bites to humans.
| Groups | Venomous | Non-venomous |
|---|---|---|
| Rat Snakes | – | Black Rat Snake Gray Rat Snake Corn Snake |
| King Snakes | – | Eastern Kingsnake Mole Kingsnake Prairie Kingsnake Scarlet Kingsnake Speckled Kingsnake Red Milk Snake Eastern Milk Snake |
| Water Snakes | Cottonmouth Florida Cottonmouth Western Cottonmouth Eastern Cottonmouth | Midland Watersnake Plain-bellied Water Snake Queen Snake Gulf Saltmarsh Watersnake Mississippi Green Watersnake Banded Water Snake Diamondback Water Snake Brown Water Snake Gulf Swampsnake Plain-bellied Water Snake Florida Green Water Snake |
| Rattlesnakes | Timber Rattlesnake Pigmy Rattlesnake Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake | – |
| Coral Snakes | Eastern Coral Snake | — |
| Pit Vipers | Copperhead Eastern Copperhead | – |
| Whip Snakes | – | Coachwhip |
| Garter Snakes | – | Ribbon Snake Eastern Garter Snake |
| Pine Snakes | – | Black Pine Snake Florida Pine Snake Northern Pine Snake |
| Centipede/Flathead/ Blackhead Snakes | – | Southeastern Crowned Snake |
| Redbelly Snakes | Northern Redbelly Snake | |
| Pseudonaja | Eastern Brown Snake | |
| Cemphora | – | Scarlet Snake |
| Carphophis | – | Eastern Worm Snake |
| Coluber | – | Eastern Racer Snake |
| Diadophis | – | Ring-necked Snake |
| Drymarchon | Eastern Indigo Snake | |
| Farancia | Mud Snake Rainbow Snake | |
| Heterodon | Eastern Hognose Snake Southern Hognose Snake | |
| Opheodrys | – | Rough Green Snake |
| Pantherophis | – | Corn Snake Gray Ratsnake |
| Rhadinaea | – | Pine Wood Snake |
| Haldea | – | Rough Earth Snake |
| Virginia | – | Smooth Earth Snake |
| Liodytes | – | Black Swamp Snake Glossy Crayfish Snake |
Snakes by Colors and Patterns
Black Snakes: Black Pine Snake, Eastern Racer, Eastern Indigo Snake, Cottonmouth, Ribbon Snake
Gray Snakes: Gray Rat Snake, Eastern Coachwhip,
Green Snakes: Rough Green Snake, Mississippi Green Water Snake, Florida Green Watersnake
Brown Snakes: Eastern Brown Snake, Brown Water Snake, DeKay’s Brown Snake
Snakes by Regions
Snakes in Northern Alabama: Black Rat Snake, Eastern Garter, Black Racer, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Pigmy Rattlesnake
Snakes in Southern Alabama: Southern Water Snake, Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake
Snakes in Central Alabama: Southern Hognose Snake, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Eastern Coral Snake
Quick Information
Largest Snake: Eastern Indigo Snake
Smallest Snake: Southeastern Crowned Snake
Most Venomous Snakes: Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Copperhead, Cottonmouth
Invasive Snakes: Burmese Python
