Venomous snakes in Oklahoma
Venomous snakes living in Oklahoma
7species
Western diamondback rattlesnake, Cottonmouth, Prairie rattlesnake, Timber rattlesnake, Copperhead, Pygmy rattlesnake, Western massasauga. A bite from any of these is a medical emergency.
How to recognize them
Western diamondback rattlesnakeDangerous817 records, 26 counties
CottonmouthDangerous461 records, 32 counties
Prairie rattlesnakeDangerous132 records, 15 counties
Timber rattlesnakeDangerous134 records, 25 counties
CopperheadMedically significant627 records, 39 counties
Pygmy rattlesnakeMedically significant136 records, 19 counties
Western massasaugaMedically significant91 records, 19 counties
Western diamondback rattlesnake Crotalus atrox
- Gray to tan with dusty diamond blotches
- Black and white bands of equal width just before the rattle
- Two pale stripes on the face
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
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
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
Western massasauga Sistrurus tergeminus
- Pale gray with dark brown blotches down the back
- Small rattle
- Nine large plates on top of the head
Every venomous snake species known from the US is on this site.
Counties with records
- None recorded
- 1 species
- 2
- 3 to 4
- 5 or more
Active months
Harmless snakes people mistake for them
- Cottonmouth vs Water Snake Water snake: harmless
- Copperhead vs Northern Water Snake Northern water snake: harmless
- Cottonmouth vs Banded Water Snake Banded 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
Banded water snakeHarmlessHarmless
Diamondback water snakeHarmlessHarmless
Eastern hognose snakeHarmlessHarmless
Corn snakeHarmlessHarmless
Rat snakeHarmlessHarmless
Milk snakeHarmlessHarmless
Scarlet snakeHarmlessHarmless
Gopher snakeHarmlessHarmless
Quick answers
- Lives here Are there rattlesnakes in Oklahoma?
- Lives here Are there copperheads in Oklahoma?
- Lives here Are there cottonmouths in Oklahoma?
- Not here Are there coral snakes in Oklahoma?
Questions
How many venomous snakes are in Oklahoma?
7 species live in the state: Western diamondback rattlesnake, Cottonmouth, Prairie rattlesnake, Timber rattlesnake, Copperhead, Pygmy rattlesnake and Western massasauga.
Which venomous snakes in Oklahoma are dangerous?
Western diamondback rattlesnake, Cottonmouth, Prairie rattlesnake, Timber rattlesnake, Copperhead, Pygmy rattlesnake and Western massasauga: a bite is a medical emergency.
When are venomous snakes most active in Oklahoma?
Most open records fall in April, June to July, November.
Which harmless snakes get mistaken for venomous ones in Oklahoma?
Water snake, Northern water snake, Banded water snake and Corn snake. See the side-by-side comparisons below.
More for Oklahoma
- All venomous animals in Oklahoma
- Venomous spiders in Oklahoma
- Scorpions in Oklahoma
- Centipedes in Oklahoma