Smooth green snake (Opheodrys vernalis)
The smooth green snake is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. GBIF holds 1,409 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 25 states, most of all Michigan (256), Pennsylvania (210) and New York (131). Its observation records peak in May.
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The smooth green snake (Opheodrys vernalis) is a species of North American nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is also referred to as the grass snake. It is a slender, "small medium" snake that measures 36–51 cm (14–20 in) as an adult.
From Wikipedia: Smooth green snake, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the smooth green snake poisonous or venomous?
No. The smooth green snake is non-venomous: it belongs to the family Colubridae, not to the pit vipers or coral snakes, the only U.S. land snakes with medically dangerous venom. It may bite if handled; clean the bite like any small wound.
Which states have the smooth green snake?
Records are spread over 25 states; the top three, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York, hold 42% of them.
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 256 | 4.9% | 7th of 17 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | 210 | 2.5% | 13th of 20 |
| 3 | New York | 131 | 2.2% | 11th of 17 |
| 4 | South Dakota | 124 | 3.9% | 7th of 16 |
| 5 | Maine | 85 | 9.7% | 3rd of 9 |
| 6 | West Virginia | 82 | 5.0% | 6th of 18 |
| 7 | Ohio | 81 | 1.3% | 12th of 25 |
| 8 | Virginia | 60 | 0.5% | 26th of 30 |
| 9 | Illinois | 54 | 1.9% | 16th of 33 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 41 | 2.1% | 8th of 13 |
| 11 | Iowa | 39 | 3.7% | 9th of 22 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 27 | 2.7% | 7th of 16 |
| 13 | Maryland | 25 | 0.7% | 19th of 20 |
| 14 | New Mexico | 25 | 0.4% | 33rd of 56 |
| 15 | Colorado | 21 | 0.6% | 14th of 26 |
| 16 | Nebraska | 21 | 0.9% | 18th of 31 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | 21 | 3.6% | 8th of 9 |
| 18 | Connecticut | 20 | 1.7% | 13th of 14 |
| 19 | Utah | 17 | 0.5% | 15th of 28 |
| 20 | Minnesota | 16 | 1.7% | 11th of 15 |
| 21 | North Dakota | 12 | 5.6% | 6th of 8 |
| 22 | Indiana | 10 | 0.5% | 26th of 27 |
| 23 | Vermont | 8 | 0.7% | 8th of 9 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | 4 | 2.0% | 5th of 10 |
| 25 | Wyoming | 3 | 0.3% | 10th of 11 |
When is the smooth green snake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the smooth green snake run mostly April through September, peaking in May with 25% of them. Almost none are from December to February.
Where the smooth green snake is recorded in each state
Michigan
Michigan holds 256 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 17 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Michigan come from Cheboygan County, Crawford County and Schoolcraft County. Next come Charlevoix County (11) and Mackinac County (11).
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania holds 210 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 20 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Pennsylvania come from Potter County, McKean County and Monroe County. Next come Wyoming County (13) and Forest County (12).
New York
New York holds 131 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 17 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in New York come from Tompkins County, Ulster County and Tioga County. Next come Schuyler County (6) and Essex County (5).
South Dakota
South Dakota holds 124 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 16 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in South Dakota come from Lawrence County, Custer County and Pennington County. Next come Edmunds County (18) and Roberts County (2).
Maine
Maine holds 85 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 9 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Maine come from Hancock County, Cumberland County and Somerset County. Next come Waldo County (7) and Lincoln County (7).
West Virginia
West Virginia holds 82 licensed records, the joint 6th most recorded of 18 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in West Virginia come from Preston County, Tucker County and Randolph County. Next come Pendleton County (5) and Pocahontas County (4).
Ohio
Ohio holds 81 licensed records, the 12th most recorded of 25 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Ohio run mostly April through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Summit County, Cuyahoga County and Greene County. Next come Portage County (4) and Wyandot County (4).
Virginia
Virginia holds 60 licensed records, the 26th most recorded of 30 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Virginia come from Bath County, Rockingham County and Highland County. Next come Madison County (4) and Augusta County (4).
Illinois
Illinois holds 54 licensed records, the 16th most recorded of 33 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Illinois come from Will County, Cook County and McLean County. Next come DuPage County (1) and Lake County (1).
Massachusetts
Massachusetts holds 41 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 13 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Massachusetts come from Barnstable County, Dukes County and Middlesex County. Next come Hampshire County (4) and Worcester County (3).
Iowa
Iowa holds 39 licensed records, the 9th most recorded of 22 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Iowa come from Woodbury County, Buchanan County and Johnson County. Next come Polk County (3) and Pocahontas County (2).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lawrence County | South Dakota | 52 | 3.7% |
| 2 | Summit County | Ohio | 48 | 3.4% |
| 3 | Tompkins County | New York | 46 | 3.3% |
| 4 | Cheboygan County | Michigan | 31 | 2.2% |
| 5 | Preston County | West Virginia | 30 | 2.1% |
| 6 | Hancock County | Maine | 26 | 1.8% |
| 7 | Custer County | South Dakota | 24 | 1.7% |
| 8 | Pennington County | South Dakota | 22 | 1.6% |
| 9 | Will County | Illinois | 21 | 1.5% |
| 10 | Edmunds County | South Dakota | 18 | 1.3% |
| 11 | Potter County | Pennsylvania | 17 | 1.2% |
| 12 | Tucker County | West Virginia | 17 | 1.2% |
| 13 | McKean County | Pennsylvania | 16 | 1.1% |
| 14 | Bath County | Virginia | 16 | 1.1% |
| 15 | Rockingham County | Virginia | 16 | 1.1% |
How recent are the smooth green snake records?
The smooth green snake record leans on older material: only 18% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1962. The oldest dated record is from 1853; the busiest year was 2025, with 54 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 7 | 0.5% |
| 1860s | 7 | 0.5% |
| 1870s | 7 | 0.5% |
| 1880s | 13 | 1.0% |
| 1890s | 25 | 1.9% |
| 1900s | 37 | 2.8% |
| 1910s | 46 | 3.5% |
| 1920s | 60 | 4.5% |
| 1930s | 162 | 12.3% |
| 1940s | 143 | 10.8% |
| 1950s | 100 | 7.6% |
| 1960s | 143 | 10.8% |
| 1970s | 90 | 6.8% |
| 1980s | 77 | 5.8% |
| 1990s | 35 | 2.6% |
| 2000s | 57 | 4.3% |
| 2010s | 103 | 7.8% |
| 2020s | 209 | 15.8% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 144 counties where the smooth green snake is most recorded, 82 are also top counties for the common garter snake, more than for any other snake. Venomous species among its neighbors: the timber rattlesnake.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Common garter snake | 82 |
| Red-bellied snake | 71 |
| Ring-necked snake | 69 |
| Eastern milksnake | 63 |
| Northern water snake | 61 |
| DeKay's brown snake | 52 |
| Eastern racer | 47 |
| Timber rattlesnake venomous | 36 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other members of the family Colubridae with profiles here: Western terrestrial garter snake, Common garter snake, Gopher snake, Ring-necked snake, Northern water snake and Eastern racer.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.