Snakes in North Carolina
North Carolina has 39 snake species on record, each with at least 10 GBIF records in the state, and 20,691 licensed records in all. The most recorded are the eastern rat snake, the eastern copperhead and the common garter snake. Five of them are venomous.
Rattlesnakes in North Carolina
Rattlesnakes are a small part of the snake record here: two species with 0.5% of records between them. The most recorded is the timber rattlesnake (65), ahead of the pygmy rattlesnake (33).
Observation records of the timber rattlesnake in North Carolina run mostly May through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Macon County, Jackson County and Montgomery County. Most licensed records of the pygmy rattlesnake in North Carolina come from Hyde County, Scotland County and Carteret County.
Copperheads and cottonmouths in North Carolina
Copperheads and cottonmouths: two species are listed for North Carolina, with 2,163 records (10% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the eastern copperhead (1,633), ahead of the northern cottonmouth (530).
Observation records of the eastern copperhead in North Carolina run mostly April through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Sampson County, Wake County and Moore County. Observation records of the northern cottonmouth in North Carolina run mostly April through November, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Dare County, Currituck County and Moore County.
Coral snakes in North Carolina
One species of this group is listed for North Carolina: the eastern coral snake, with 47 records (0.2% of the state's snake records).
Most licensed records of the eastern coral snake in North Carolina come from New Hanover County, Pender County and Bladen County.
Water snakes and swamp snakes in North Carolina
Water snakes and swamp snakes: nine species are listed for North Carolina, with 4,439 records (21% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the northern water snake (1,281), ahead of the southern watersnake (1,158).
Observation records of the northern water snake in North Carolina run mostly March through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Wake County, Orange County and Dare County. Observation records of the southern watersnake in North Carolina run mostly March through September, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Columbus County, Sampson County and Scotland County. Most licensed records of the mud snake in North Carolina come from Columbus County, Sampson County and New Hanover County.
Garter snakes and ribbon snakes in North Carolina
Garter snakes and ribbon snakes: two species are listed for North Carolina, with 1,553 records (8% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the common garter snake (1,325), ahead of the eastern ribbonsnake (228).
Observation records of the common garter snake in North Carolina run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Wake County, Macon County and Watauga County. Observation records of the eastern ribbonsnake in North Carolina run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Dare County, Hyde County and Wake County.
Rat snakes and corn snakes in North Carolina
Rat snakes and corn snakes: two species are listed for North Carolina, with 2,657 records (13% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the eastern rat snake (1,917), ahead of the corn snake (740).
Observation records of the eastern rat snake in North Carolina run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Sampson County, Wake County and Orange County. Most licensed records of the corn snake in North Carolina come from Sampson County, Bladen County and Moore County.
Kingsnakes and milksnakes in North Carolina
Kingsnakes and milksnakes: five species are listed for North Carolina, with 1,229 records (6% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the eastern kingsnake (495), ahead of the prairie kingsnake (291).
Observation records of the eastern kingsnake in North Carolina run mostly April through August, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Dare County, Wake County and Brunswick County. Most licensed records of the prairie kingsnake in North Carolina come from Wake County, Durham County and Moore County. Most licensed records of the mole kingsnake in North Carolina come from Wake County, Moore County and Mecklenburg County.
Racers, whipsnakes and indigo snakes in North Carolina
Racers, whipsnakes and indigo snakes: two species are listed for North Carolina, with 1,385 records (7% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the eastern racer (1,221), ahead of the coachwhip (164).
Observation records of the eastern racer in North Carolina run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Wake County, Dare County and Brunswick County. Most licensed records of the coachwhip in North Carolina come from Scotland County, Richmond County and Bladen County.
Gopher snakes, bullsnakes and pine snakes in North Carolina
One species of this group is listed for North Carolina: the pine snake, with 11 records (0.1% of the state's snake records).
Hognose snakes in North Carolina
Hognose snakes: two species are listed for North Carolina, with 663 records (3% of the state's snake records). The most recorded is the eastern hog-nosed snake (652), ahead of the southern hognose snake (11).
Most licensed records of the eastern hog-nosed snake in North Carolina come from Scotland County, Moore County and Duplin County.
Green snakes in North Carolina
One species of this group is listed for North Carolina: the rough greensnake, with 868 records (4% of the state's snake records).
Observation records of the rough greensnake in North Carolina run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Sampson County, Wake County and Scotland County.
Small woodland and burrowing snakes in North Carolina
Small woodland and burrowing snakes dominate the snake record of North Carolina: ten species and 26% of all records. The most recorded is the ring-necked snake (1,305), ahead of the eastern wormsnake (975).
Observation records of the ring-necked snake in North Carolina run mostly April through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Macon County, Watauga County and Clay County. Observation records of the eastern wormsnake in North Carolina run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Wake County, Orange County and Durham County. Observation records of the DeKay's brown snake in North Carolina run mostly March through November, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Wake County, Durham County and Orange County.
Where in North Carolina are snakes recorded most?
Records are spread widely: even the top five counties, led by Wake County, hold only 28% of them. 100 of North Carolina's 100 counties have at least one licensed snake record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake County | 1,941 | 9.4% |
| 2 | Sampson County | 1,453 | 7.0% |
| 3 | Columbus County | 838 | 4.1% |
| 4 | Durham County | 832 | 4.0% |
| 5 | Moore County | 769 | 3.7% |
| 6 | Orange County | 743 | 3.6% |
| 7 | Dare County | 687 | 3.3% |
| 8 | Brunswick County | 666 | 3.2% |
| 9 | Bladen County | 645 | 3.1% |
| 10 | Scotland County | 591 | 2.9% |
| 11 | New Hanover County | 561 | 2.7% |
| 12 | Macon County | 481 | 2.3% |
When do snakes come out in North Carolina?
Observation records of snakes in North Carolina run mostly March through October, peaking in May with 19% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 3% of the records. The sharpest rise comes from March to April.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1% | 1% | 8% | 16% | 19% | 14% | 11% | 9% | 9% | 7% | 3% | 1% |
Snakes: North Carolina compared with its neighbors
North Carolina ranks 12th of 50 states by the number of snake species listed; Texas leads with 86 species.
Of the four states bordering North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina list more snake species (North Carolina: 39 species; Georgia 44, South Carolina 40, Tennessee 32, Virginia 30).
What snakes are in North Carolina? All 39 species
Ranked by licensed records in North Carolina. Species with a profile page are linked.
| # | Species | Family | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | Colubridae | 1,917 | 9.3% |
| 2 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | Viperidae | 1,633 | 7.9% |
| 3 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | Colubridae | 1,325 | 6.4% |
| 4 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | Colubridae | 1,305 | 6.3% |
| 5 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | Colubridae | 1,281 | 6.2% |
| 6 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | Colubridae | 1,221 | 5.9% |
| 7 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | Colubridae | 1,158 | 5.6% |
| 8 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | Colubridae | 975 | 4.7% |
| 9 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | Colubridae | 922 | 4.5% |
| 10 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | Colubridae | 868 | 4.2% |
| 11 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | Colubridae | 740 | 3.6% |
| 12 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | Colubridae | 712 | 3.4% |
| 13 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | Colubridae | 652 | 3.2% |
| 14 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | Viperidae | 530 | 2.6% |
| 15 | Mud snake Farancia abacura | Colubridae | 524 | 2.5% |
| 16 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | Colubridae | 508 | 2.5% |
| 17 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | Colubridae | 495 | 2.4% |
| 18 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | Colubridae | 468 | 2.3% |
| 19 | Brown water snake Nerodia taxispilota | Colubridae | 363 | 1.8% |
| 20 | Queen snake Regina septemvittata | Colubridae | 341 | 1.6% |
| 21 | Scarlet snake Cemophora coccinea | Colubridae | 331 | 1.6% |
| 22 | Prairie kingsnake Lampropeltis calligaster | Colubridae | 291 | 1.4% |
| 23 | Smooth earth snake Virginia valeriae | Colubridae | 235 | 1.1% |
| 24 | Southeastern crown snake Tantilla coronata | Colubridae | 232 | 1.1% |
| 25 | Mole kingsnake Lampropeltis rhombomaculata | Colubridae | 229 | 1.1% |
| 26 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | Colubridae | 228 | 1.1% |
| 27 | Pine woods snake Rhadinaea flavilata | Colubridae | 185 | 0.9% |
| 28 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | Colubridae | 172 | 0.8% |
| 29 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | Colubridae | 164 | 0.8% |
| 30 | Rainbow snake Farancia erytrogramma | Colubridae | 126 | 0.6% |
| 31 | Black swamp snake Liodytes pygaea | Colubridae | 69 | 0.3% |
| 32 | Crayfish snake Liodytes rigida | Colubridae | 69 | 0.3% |
| 33 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | Viperidae | 65 | 0.3% |
| 34 | Eastern coral snake venomous Micrurus fulvius | Elapidae | 47 | 0.2% |
| 35 | Scarlet kingsnake Lampropeltis elapsoides | Colubridae | 42 | 0.2% |
| 36 | Pygmy rattlesnake venomous Sistrurus miliarius | Viperidae | 33 | 0.2% |
| 37 | Western worm snake Carphophis vermis | Colubridae | 12 | 0.1% |
| 38 | Pine snake Pituophis melanoleucus | Colubridae | 11 | 0.1% |
| 39 | Southern hognose snake Heterodon simus | Colubridae | 11 | 0.1% |
Related pages
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.