Venomous snakes in Maryland

Venomous snakes living in Maryland

2species, plus 1 with rare records

Timber rattlesnake, Copperhead. A bite from the timber rattlesnake is a medical emergency.

How to recognize them

• Timber rattlesnakeDangerous64 records, 5 counties
• CopperheadMedically significant218 records, 17 counties

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

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

Counties with records

Active months

Rare records

• Rare records Cottonmouth 1 open record

Harmless snakes people mistake for them

• 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
• Copperhead vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless

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

Quick answers

• Lives here Are there rattlesnakes in Maryland?
• Lives here Are there copperheads in Maryland?
• Rare records Are there cottonmouths in Maryland?

More for Maryland

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

Venomous snakes in neighboring states

• Delaware
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia
• West Virginia