Are there rattlesnakes in Arkansas?
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake: Only as rare records. GBIF holds 3 open records of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake from Arkansas, but there is no known population.
Western diamondback rattlesnake: Yes. The western diamondback rattlesnake lives in Arkansas. Open records come from 5 counties.
Timber rattlesnake: Yes. The timber rattlesnake lives in Arkansas. Open records come from 16 counties.
Pygmy rattlesnake: Yes. The pygmy rattlesnake lives in Arkansas. Open records come from 6 counties.
Where in Arkansas
- None recorded
- 1 species
- 2
- 3 to 4
- 5 or more
Rattlesnakes across the US
- Lives here
- Rare records
- Gone
- Not here
How to recognize them
Western diamondback rattlesnake Crotalus atrox
- Gray to tan with dusty diamond blotches
- Black and white bands of equal width just before the rattle
- Two pale stripes on the face
Dangerous. Responsible for many of the serious snakebites in the Southwest. A bite is a medical emergency.
Timber rattlesnake Crotalus horridus
- Dark V- or chevron-shaped bands across the back
- Black tail ending in a rattle
- Yellow, tan or dark phases; some are almost black
Dangerous. Usually calm and slow to strike, but a bite is a medical emergency.
Pygmy rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius
- Small with a thin tail and a tiny rattle that sounds like a buzzing insect
- Gray or tan with dark round blotches
- Often a reddish stripe down the spine
Medically significant. Small venom yield, and deaths are extremely rare, but bites are painful and need medical care.
Often mistaken for rattlesnakes
- Rattlesnake vs Gopher Snake Gopher snake: harmless
- Eastern Diamondback vs Timber Rattlesnake Timber rattlesnake: dangerous, lives in Arkansas
- Timber Rattlesnake vs Copperhead Copperhead: medically significant, lives in Arkansas
- Western Diamondback vs Mojave Rattlesnake Mojave rattlesnake: dangerous
- Pygmy Rattlesnake vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless, lives in Arkansas
Questions
Are there rattlesnakes in Arkansas?
Yes. 3 species live in Arkansas: Western diamondback rattlesnake, Timber rattlesnake and Pygmy rattlesnake.
What do rattlesnakes look like?
Dark diamonds with pale yellow edges down the back. Two pale diagonal stripes on each side of the face. Thick body and a rattle on the tail.