An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Snakes are one of the most interesting groups of animals in Kentucky. They range in size from the tiny 7-inch worm snake to the impressive 6-foot black rat snake. Some, like the slender green snake, are masters of camouflage, while others, such as the scarlet kingsnake , display themselves with brilliant colors. Not only do snakes come in a wide range of sizes and colors, but they are also found in a variety of habitats. Snakes may be found anywhere in Kentucky, from deep in the forest to your own backyard. Depending on the species of snake, its diet may include insects, mice, toads, birds, and even other snakes.
The safest thing to do is to leave it alone. Ignore the misinformation that suggests snake behavior is inherently aggressive. Kentucky snakes are not aggressive unless they are cornered. Most will flee when they see you. Snakes are likely more scared of you than you are of them.
Despite their bad reputation, snakes are very beneficial. They eat many of the slugs, insects, mice, and rats that we consider pests. In addition to their ecological value, snakes are widely used in medical research. Unfortunately, these things don’t come to mind when most people encounter a snake. Many people fear and dislike snakes, often because they believe they are venomous. However, of the 32 types of snakes found in Kentucky, only four are venomous. Thus, most snakes encountered are pretty harmless. With a bit of information, it is easy to distinguish a venomous snake from one of the many harmless snakes found in Kentucky. You should feel lucky to encounter a snake. Appreciate it and leave it alone just as you do with songbirds in your garden.
How To ID Copperheads and Cottonmouths
Snakes of Kentucky
Learn More About Kentucky's NativeSnakes
Download our Kentucky Snakes Booklet for more information.
While snakes are an essential part of the environment, there are situations where a person may want to discourage their presence. Although some chemical agents, such as naphthalene (mothballs) and cayenne pepper, have been proposed as potential deterrents, their effectiveness is questionable. The best way of discouraging snakes is to make an area less appealing to them by removing shelter and food sources.
Although there is no way to guarantee that you will never find a snake in your yard, there are ways to make your home and yard less attractive to snakes. Snakes are attracted to wood, tin, rock, and other types of debris. Such piles provide shelter for snakes, rodents, and other prey species. It is also a good idea to keep your grass cut short. Another recommendation is to stack firewood on a rack, away from the house, and to elevate the stack off the ground.
Snakes occasionally enter basements, crawl spaces under homes, and outbuildings. While few people may encounter snakes in their basements, it is not unusual to find shed skins in these areas or elsewhere. If you find relatively intact skin, it is easy to tell if it came from one of Kentucky’s venomous species. Take a look at the underside of the tail behind the anal plate. If the scales directly behind the anal plate are divided into two rows, you can be assured the skin came from a harmless species. If these scales are in a single row, caution should be taken if searching for the offending animal.
To prevent snakes from entering unwanted areas, inspect the exterior (or interior) for any openings larger than 1/4”. These openings can be sealed with mortar, 1/8” hardware cloth, or caulk around windows, wiring, and other vulnerable points.
Figure 1. The scales around the snake's tail are slightly different at the base of the venomous snake (left) as compared with the non-venomous snake (right).
Venomous - Species with the "" icon indicate that this species is venomous; please use caution when encountering this species.)
EASTERN COPPERHEAD(Agkistrodon contortrix)
TIMBER RATTLESNAKE (Crotalus horridus)
NORTHERN COTTONMOUTH (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma)
WESTERN PIGMY RATTLESNAKE (Sistrurus miliarius steckeri)
If you are bitten by a snake
Stay calm, here are some simple tips to handle a snake bite:
Non-venomous (Harmless) - This gallery includes both egg-laying and live-bearing snakes that are harmless.
Broad-banded Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata confluens)
Central Ratsnake(Pantherophis alleghaniensis)
Common Watersnake(Nerodia sipedon)
Common Wormsnake(Carphonphis amoenus)
Copperbelly Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta)
DeKay's Brownsnake(Storeria dekayi)
Diamond-backed Watersnake (Nerodia rhombifer)
Eastern Black Kingsnake(Lampropeltis nigra)
Eastern Gartersnake(Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake(Heterodon platirhinos)
Eastern Milksnake(Lampropeltis triangulum)
Eastern Pinesnake (Pituophis melanoleucus)
Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis saurita saurita)
Kirtland's Snake(Clonophis kirtlandii)
Mississippi Green Watersnake(Nerodia cyclopion)
North American Racer (Coluber consrictor)
Plain-bellied Water Snake(Nerodia erythrogaster)
Prairie Kingsnake(Lampropeltis calligaster)
Queensnake(Regina septemvittata)
Red Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttantus)
Red-bellied Mudsnake (Farancia abacura)
Red-bellied Snake(Storeria occipitomaculata)
Ring-necked Snake(Diadophis punctatus)
Rough Greensnake(Opheodrys aestivus)
Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis elaposoides)
Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea)
Smooth Earthsnake(Virigina valeriae)
Southeastern Crowned Snake (Tantilla coronata)
Western Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis proximus)