Venomous snakes in Pennsylvania

Venomous snakes living in Pennsylvania

3species

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

How to recognize them

• Timber rattlesnakeDangerous588 records, 46 counties
• CopperheadMedically significant341 records, 42 counties
• Eastern massasaugaMedically significant81 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

Eastern massasauga Sistrurus catenatus

• Gray or brown with large dark 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

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 Pennsylvania?
• Lives here Are there copperheads in Pennsylvania?
• Not here Are there cottonmouths in Pennsylvania?

More for Pennsylvania

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

Venomous snakes in neighboring states

• Delaware
• Maryland
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• West Virginia