Are there rattlesnakes in Iowa?
Timber rattlesnake: Yes. The timber rattlesnake lives in Iowa. Open records come from 6 counties.
Prairie rattlesnake: Yes. The prairie rattlesnake lives in Iowa. Open records come from 2 counties.
Eastern massasauga: Yes. The eastern massasauga lives in Iowa. Open records come from 8 counties.
Where in Iowa
- 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
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.
Prairie rattlesnake Crotalus viridis
- Greenish gray to brown with dark blotches down the back
- Blotches narrow into bands near the tail
- Two pale lines on the side of the face
Dangerous. The only rattlesnake across most of the northern plains. A bite is a medical emergency.
Eastern massasauga Sistrurus catenatus
- Gray or brown with large dark blotches down the back
- Small rattle
- Nine large plates on top of the head
Medically significant. Listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Bites are rare and need medical care.
Often mistaken for rattlesnakes
- Rattlesnake vs Gopher Snake Gopher snake: harmless, lives in Iowa
- Eastern Diamondback vs Timber Rattlesnake Timber rattlesnake: dangerous, lives in Iowa
- Timber Rattlesnake vs Copperhead Copperhead: medically significant, lives in Iowa
- Western Diamondback vs Mojave Rattlesnake Mojave rattlesnake: dangerous
- Pygmy Rattlesnake vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless, lives in Iowa
Questions
Are there rattlesnakes in Iowa?
Yes. 3 species live in Iowa: Timber rattlesnake, Prairie rattlesnake and Eastern massasauga.
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.