Snakes in Arkansas

Rattlesnakes are a small part of the snake record here: three species with 1% of records between them. The most recorded is the timber rattlesnake (46), ahead of the pygmy rattlesnake (11).

Observation records of the timber rattlesnake in Arkansas run mostly April through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Columbia County, Polk County and Crawford County.

Copperheads and cottonmouths: two species are listed for Arkansas, with 320 records (6% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the northern cottonmouth (190), ahead of the eastern copperhead (130).

Observation records of the northern cottonmouth in Arkansas run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Pike County, Columbia County and Monroe County. Observation records of the eastern copperhead in Arkansas run mostly April through September, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Columbia County, Polk County and Washington County.

Water snakes and swamp snakes dominate the snake record of Arkansas: nine species and 68% of all records. The most recorded is the diamondback water snake (3,056), ahead of the plain-bellied watersnake (238).

Observation records of the diamondback water snake in Arkansas run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Lonoke County, Columbia County and Pulaski County. Observation records of the plain-bellied watersnake in Arkansas run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Lonoke County, Greene County and Columbia County. Observation records of the southern watersnake in Arkansas run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Lonoke County, Columbia County and Pulaski County.

Garter snakes and ribbon snakes: two species are listed for Arkansas, with 178 records (3% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the western ribbon snake (95), ahead of the common garter snake (83).

Observation records of the western ribbon snake in Arkansas run mostly March through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Washington County, Clay County and Columbia County. Observation records of the common garter snake in Arkansas run mostly March through November, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Washington County, Benton County and Clay County.

Rat snakes and corn snakes are a small part of the snake record here: three species with 3% of records between them. The most recorded is the western rat snake (144), ahead of the Great Plains rat snake (8).

Observation records of the western rat snake in Arkansas run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Washington County, Columbia County and Benton County.

Kingsnakes and milksnakes: four species are listed for Arkansas, with 199 records (4% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the speckled kingsnake (122), ahead of the prairie kingsnake (42).

Observation records of the speckled kingsnake in Arkansas run mostly March through July, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Sebastian County, Washington County and Pulaski County. Observation records of the prairie kingsnake in Arkansas run mostly April through June, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Columbia County, Benton County and Pulaski County.

Racers, whipsnakes and indigo snakes are a small part of the snake record here: two species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is the eastern racer (113), ahead of the coachwhip (16).

Observation records of the eastern racer in Arkansas run mostly March through August, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Monroe County, Polk County and Pulaski County.

One species of this group is listed for Arkansas: the eastern hog-nosed snake, with 24 records (0.5% of the state's snake records).

One species of this group is listed for Arkansas: the rough greensnake, with 97 records (2% of the state's snake records).

Observation records of the rough greensnake in Arkansas run mostly April through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Columbia County, Monroe County and Sebastian County.

Small woodland and burrowing snakes: nine species are listed for Arkansas, with 512 records (10% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the ring-necked snake (212), ahead of the DeKay's brown snake (79).

Observation records of the ring-necked snake in Arkansas run mostly March through September, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Polk County, Montgomery County and Washington County. Observation records of the DeKay's brown snake in Arkansas run mostly February through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Washington County, Columbia County and Benton County. Most licensed records of the western worm snake in Arkansas come from Polk County, Washington County and Montgomery County.

Lonoke County dominates: 60% of the state's licensed snake records come from it alone, and the top five counties hold 75%. 68 of Arkansas's 75 counties have at least one licensed snake record.

Observation records of snakes in Arkansas run mostly March through October, peaking in May with 27% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 3% of the records. The sharpest rise comes from March to April.

Arkansas ranks 14th of 50 states by the number of snake species listed, level with Missouri; Texas leads with 86 species.

Of the six states bordering Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Mississippi list more snake species; Missouri lists as many (Arkansas: 36 species; Texas 86, Oklahoma 50, Louisiana 41, Mississippi 38, Missouri 36, Tennessee 32).

Ranked by licensed records in Arkansas. Species with a profile page are linked.

Beyond the main list, four snake species are known from Arkansas by only 3 to 9 records each. Some are genuine rarities at the edge of their range; others may be strays, released pets or old misidentifications, so treat them as unconfirmed. Venomous among them: Texas coral snake.