Venomous snakes in Kentucky

Venomous snakes living in Kentucky

4species

Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnake, Copperhead, Pygmy rattlesnake. A bite from any of these is a medical emergency.

How to recognize them

• CottonmouthDangerous66 records, 6 counties
• Timber rattlesnakeDangerous66 records, 15 counties
• CopperheadMedically significant223 records, 32 counties
• Pygmy rattlesnakeMedically significant1 record, 1 county

Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus

• Heavy, dark olive to black body; bands fade with age
• Broad flat head with a dark stripe through the eye
• Swims with the whole body high on the water

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

Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix

• Copper to tan body with dark hourglass bands: wide on the sides, narrow on the spine
• Plain coppery head with no pattern
• Young snakes have a bright yellow-green tail tip

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

Every venomous snake species known from the US is on this site.

Counties with records

Active months

Harmless snakes people mistake for them

• Cottonmouth vs Water Snake Water snake: harmless
• Copperhead vs Northern Water Snake Northern water snake: harmless
• Copperhead vs Corn Snake Corn snake: harmless
• Copperhead vs Rat Snake Rat snake: harmless
• Copperhead vs Milk Snake Milk snake: harmless
• Cottonmouth vs Diamondback Water Snake Diamondback water snake: harmless
• Pygmy Rattlesnake vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless
• Copperhead vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless

• Water snakeHarmlessHarmless
• Northern water snakeHarmlessHarmless
• Diamondback water snakeHarmlessHarmless
• Eastern hognose snakeHarmlessHarmless
• Corn snakeHarmlessHarmless
• Rat snakeHarmlessHarmless
• Milk snakeHarmlessHarmless

Quick answers

• Lives here Are there rattlesnakes in Kentucky?
• Lives here Are there copperheads in Kentucky?
• Lives here Are there cottonmouths in Kentucky?
• Not here Are there coral snakes in Kentucky?

More for Kentucky

• All venomous animals in Kentucky
• Venomous spiders in Kentucky
• Scorpions in Kentucky
• Centipedes in Kentucky

Venomous snakes in neighboring states

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Missouri
• Ohio
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• West Virginia