Are there rattlesnakes in North Carolina?
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake: Yes. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake lives in North Carolina. Open records come from 2 counties.
Timber rattlesnake: Yes. The timber rattlesnake lives in North Carolina. Open records come from 26 counties.
Pygmy rattlesnake: Yes. The pygmy rattlesnake lives in North Carolina. Open records come from 8 counties.
Where in North Carolina
- 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
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus
- 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
Dangerous. A large snake with a big venom yield. 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 North Carolina
- Timber Rattlesnake vs Copperhead Copperhead: medically significant, lives in North Carolina
- Western Diamondback vs Mojave Rattlesnake Mojave rattlesnake: dangerous
- Pygmy Rattlesnake vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless, lives in North Carolina
Questions
Are there rattlesnakes in North Carolina?
Yes. 3 species live in North Carolina: Eastern 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.