Venomous snakes in New Jersey

Venomous snakes living in New Jersey

2species

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

How to recognize them

• Timber rattlesnakeDangerous78 records, 5 counties
• CopperheadMedically significant57 records, 5 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

Harmless snakes people mistake for them

• Copperhead vs Northern Water Snake Northern water 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
• Rat snakeHarmlessHarmless
• Milk snakeHarmlessHarmless

Quick answers

• Lives here Are there rattlesnakes in New Jersey?
• Lives here Are there copperheads in New Jersey?
• Not here Are there cottonmouths in New Jersey?

More for New Jersey

• All venomous animals in New Jersey
• Venomous spiders in New Jersey
• Scorpions in New Jersey
• Centipedes in New Jersey

Venomous snakes in neighboring states

• Delaware
• New York
• Pennsylvania