Snakes in Virginia

Virginia has over 30 snake species, of which three are considered venomous. Though the timber rattlesnake has more potent venom than the copperhead, the latter is found more abundantly, found throughout the state. In contrast, the timber rattlesnake has a limited range confined to the mountainous terrain of western Virginia, and a small area in the southeastern corner. The cottonmouth also inhabits southeastern Virginia, mainly the southern regions of Chesapeake, and Virginia beach.

Groups	Venomous	Non-venomous
Rattlesnakes	Timber Rattlesnake	–
Pit Vipers	Eastern Copperhead Cottonmouth	–
Water Snakes	–	Plain-bellied Watersnake Common Watersnake Brown Water Snake
Kingsnakes		Northern Mole Kingsnake Eastern Kingsnake Black Kingsnake Scarlet Kingsnake Eastern Milksnake
Garter Snakes	–	Common Ribbon Snake Eastern Garter Snake
Hognose Snakes	–	Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Diadophis	–	Northern Ringneck Snake Southern Ringneck Snake
Coluber	–	Northern Black Racer
Farancia	–	Common Rainbow Snake Eastern Mud Snake
Cemophora	–	Northern Scarlet Snake
Carphophis	–	Eastern Worm Snake
Virginia	–	Rough Earth Snake Mountain Earthsnake Eastern Smooth Earthsnake
Liodytes	–	Crayfish Snake
Opheodrys	–	Northern Rough Greensnake Smooth Greensnake
Pantherophis	–	Corn Snake Eastern Rat Snake
Pituophis	–	Pine Snake
Storeria		DeKay’s Brown Snake Red Belly Snake
Regina	–	Queen Snake
Tantilla	–	Southeastern Crown Snake